(...the chances of finding a block are identical whether that hash is mining at 1 pool or spread across 100 pools.)
What is the point of low hashers mining at a pool if their hashes are not a combined effort toward solving 1 individual block. I guess I still don't understand what pools do that solo-mining doesn't.
With low hashes, solo-mining will likely never give you a payout unless you're one lucky bastard. With a pool you're much more likely to get some payout.
I understand that there is a payout issued with a pool based on contribution. My question is, if we as pool members are actually working together as a team then why not work together on 1 pool rather than 6 or 7? Otherwise if we mine individually then it is the same as solo mining. This question pertains to p2pool and pplns pools. NOT PPS!!
My question is about sharing the work. I don't care about the payments.
Pool or solo users contribute the same to the network. The major difference is that a solo miner only benefits when he/she finds a block. For example look at BTC, If one were to solo mine with the typical hash power the miners here have, they could mine for YEARS without even solving a block and thus pay for hardware and electricity at a complete loss.
In a pool, the pool accepts lower difficulty hashes under the idea the eventually somebody will submit a hash that is at or above target. IF everybody would solo mine the effect is the same to the network. The network does not care if a block is solved by pool or solo, it does not know the difference.
The only share it sees and counts is the one that meets the difficulty requirement.
A block unsolved or solved has nothing to do with solo vs. pool. But pools allow people to share the rewards of a found block, they eliminate the variance factor to the miner.
