It would make him a good Name-taxi for short expeditions, at least.
One powerful enough to effortlessly bully Luna and Chrysalis and run circles around Cadance and Celestia (So clearly unbeatable through normal gameplay actions). And unpalatable enough to the players' tastes. So it's no surprise that players both did only the minimum GM-mandated interactions with the Master and picked the first presented cutscene option to kill it off for good.
As an aside, I wonder how the quest would would have been written by the author with the character starting superficially the same and with the same backstory, but played to be wildly different morally. Still the ironclad "family is everything" conviction, but for everything else to be a mask, a lie, a hollow image, an extended act of social mimicry.
Creatures of Everfree hungering for ponyflesh cover a multitude of sins.
Something like that could work as a second layer of "truth" on the attack, once the Bureau learns of their existence: "The cultists brought a Wendigo to sic it on the Commissioner and her household, but she fought it off and so the summoned monster picked the easier prey and turned on its handlers and murderized them."
That trait has saved us what, 15 bits so far? Two RotT and Baldomare summoning? Maybe 20?
There was a vote that would have had this be the case in the aftermath of the Ritual against Luna. Would definitely have been interesting, though it would be a be try different quest!
Something about deciphering the book being considered reading it.
Seconded, also advocating for dropping this whole Rich family business.
OurBirdOfWires confirmed that they become a non entity mechanically.
Isn't that an argument against using the sacrament on Spoiled Rich? Our best guess to make Filthy Rich our confidant was helping with whatever issues his marriage has, this sounds like it would lock us out of that.
Ah yes. The "hopes and dreams" method of following established mechanics.
Personally I want to do it so we have nonlethal option during expedition. Perhaps Copper will require additional persuasion to pass Neighina bindings to us. Or some of her cultists will look useful and appear cooperative.
Because as everyone knows, if someone looks cooperative then the best solution is to lock them against their will in a basement. This will surely make them like us!
Well who you propose to lead expedition to kill her? If Bieddie then I told why I have my doubts about him. If Comet or Rarity then both would not be okay with killing in cold blood and it would be better done by Velvet personally or at least by one of her Names. Or we still would refuse to take matters in our hoofs and make our followers do hard work for us?
Your doubts amount to "oh no we're sending a person who has autonomy to do something!". Which applies any time we ask a Name to do literally anything, and would especially apply if we sent a non-summon to lead the assault, because they don't have supernatural bindings that compel them to follow our orders.
I am fine with leaving it to her or Comet judgement, but Copper still is Grail adept. I'd prefer to have back up plan in case she goes on her knees, makes a big round eyes and tells whoever comes to kill her that they can't be hero by staining they hoof with her blood, or that killing her would be monstrous thing to do or whatever bullshit she may come up. Better to have prison and not use it but have it available for the time when we would need Sacraments, than not have it and suddenly find a need for one.
We are sending person who is not only have authonomy but also not our friend and would not consider our goals beyond what we have directly ordered. Look at Biedde allowing that gangster to fight Velvet, or Baldomare taking orders to find ritual sites literally.
Biedde fought the strongest opponent he could reminder mortals will not fight Biedde if at all possible, they will flee or go for other opponents. If you want the Names to do what we want, make friends with them, it is that simple. Treat them with respect, help them with their problems, and don't assume hostility when their is none. If Biedde wanted Velvet dead she would be.
I'm still not seeing the problem here. Our goal is to kill Copper. If we order Biedde to kill Copper, he (and the rest of the Name Hit Squad) will go kill Copper. If you genuinely care about them for some reason taking a detour to kill literally every single member of the cult, then tell them to only kill Copper Secateur and maybe Neighnia (without incriminating us). If you want them to do more than one thing while they're there, then order them to try and do more than that one specific thing.
Gee, I wonder why I mentioned "Copper's resources and defenses" in my plan's RotT target and not only "Copper's location"? Surely it couldn't be because I want to find out if there's anything up her sleeves before we send out the Name Hit Squad.