I'll never stop being fascinated by the AP denialism of people like Alan. It's either APs don't exist, or they do exist but don't make any real money, or he feels sorry for them because they don't experience the "fun" of -EV gambling.

I think Alan is one of a particular sort of people that think of themselves as savvy gamblers. Alan knows the rules of craps and some betting system mumbo jumbo and wants to believe that makes him a sharp guy compared to all the sucker regular bettors. Of course he is exactly the same as all the other suckers, he just can't allow himself to believe that.

So when he finds out there are people that actually make money gambling his self-image as a sharp who looks down on the suckers that don't have systems is threatened. And so the endless exchanges where he flails about trying to satisfy himself that he's not just another degenerate.