Obviously, it depends on the system. Mine can't be decoded. It'd be easier for someone to use the highs and lows of a stock as signals, and then try decoding that. Wait...that is what everyone's been trying to decode. Anyway ... I get that. But, it all depends. (On trading results, personality, family dynamics/relationships/personalities/etc./etc.) Your mileage obviously...varied. Because that was your experience...or everyone you've ever known's experience; doesn't necessarily imply it'll be everyone else's experience. And if it is...that's how life works. But I do appreciate the warning.
When we speak about decoding based on signals, complex systems cannot be decoded. I wrote this before: complex systems cannot be decoded, one can only built a system that approaches the complex system. If systems could be decoded easily people would be able to build the perfect system. Because all they should do is decode a hypothetical system that takes all tops and bottoms. You wrote correctly: "Obviously, it depends on the system. Mine can't be decoded. It'd be easier for someone to use the highs and lows of a stock as signals, and then try decoding that. Wait...that is what everyone's been trying to decode. " To decode a complex system you need a lot of information: How many timeframes are used? Are these timeframes independant or is data from different timeframes mixed in calculations? How many indicators are used in each timeframe? Do you use the same indicators in each timeframe or not? How do you interprete each indicator? Is interpretation always the same no matter what the strength of the trend is? When indicators are in conflict, which one has highest priority? Are there exceptional rules? thousands of other questions... There are billions of combinations if all the above questions are answered. I would like to see who can reconstruct a complex tradingsystem from all this information. Mine cannot be decoded too for the simple reason that the system that manages the calculations from the programming, is located in my head. None of the rules are in any part of the programming, they are in my head.
It occurred to me that in the same sense that our systems 'decode' price action; they could be used to decode/forecast/predict another system. So, like you mentioned, with years of signals from a system, a new system could be created to forecast what the primary system would do. Even so, if a system is that good, then rather than wait to observe years of someone else's signals, just throw tons of readily available market data at it. So yeah, I'm not worried about any attempts to decode my signals. I use an ensemble of over 20 algos...don't tell me you do that too? hehe
No one will ever reveal a method that actually works. I can only think of 2 exceptions: 1) Close friend or relative bringing you on board. 2) SOES bandits were having seminars where they were educating others to get more people involved. if anyone knows others, please share.
I suspect that people are willing to reveal bits and pieces about a successful system. But I agree, no one will reveal their complete super successful system save those exceptions. But regarding a system that's successful, but not super successful: I could see someone selling the complete method.
There are lots of money to be made. All you need is finding wealthy people who don't think straight. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-nancy-reagan-astrology-20160306-story.html