Izz - I just thought I'd give my opinion on this matter:
What's the point of playing a game if there aren't any rules? I for one wouldn't like to play monopoly if my fellow players were stealing money and properties from the banking pile every turn. Even though Res isn't a competition as such, some want to be on top of collection leader boards, have impressive pets etc. Cheaters have an unfair advantage and this not only affects the enjoyment and satisfaction of those that are "competing" genuinely, but can lead to a bloated and ruined game economy that could make rare pets worthless, rare items common, and probably a much less trusting community atmosphere on this very friendly site.
That is what would happen if cheaters were left to reign free, and probably very quickly at that. And that in turn would make the game basically unplayable.
I for one greatly appreciate the efforts of the Res staff, as it actually means you can make trades and deals with other users on a trust basis, unlike many other pet sites and others of that ilk.