Presumably this feature is to allow you to join raids that don't match your lockout exactly - for example, if you go 3/8 in your first run, you don't have to wait for another group with a 3+/8 lockout, but can join a fresh group and just get no loot for the first 3 bosses.

Hopefully this will not apply to tier tokens that may drop. Not being able to collect tier gear simply because you've been unlucky with rolls/drops will be maddening.

This really confuses me. Why would they make us automatically pass on loot even if we did NOT win anything?

@Dadruidess Because otherwise people would queue multiple times to gear up to make the normal/heroic versions easier. As it is, you get a chance to loot once a week, just as if you went with your guild on the normal or heroic version.

@dadruidess Maybe to discourage the people who constantly get into groups, pitch a fit when *their* thing doesn't drop off the first/second boss, then drop group and immediately try again?

Why couldn't you? There's no lockout. There's not even a restriction on how many times you can get in. Assuming you get 8/8 with LFR once during the week (unlikely early on in 4.3 but hey), you can then go back in and get another 500 VPs. Then, because it'd be stupid to run it solely for 50VPs (considering you can only get loot rolls once), you might as well run a 4.0 Cata heroic for the last 50.

Two main reasons for the "one chance per boss" restriction:

1. To prevent chain-running the raid to get fully geared within one week.

2. It's exactly like running a normal raid with a normal raid lock.

It's not strange at all to only get one shot at loot from a raid boss once per week. That's exactly how it works now.

I never saw the raid finder as a way to get loot until other people brought it up. My first assumption as to why it was created (and at an easier level too) is so that people can PRACTICE fights. Imagine if you had this back in naxx. Head on over to Heigan, and practice the dance where the goo won't one shot you, so that when you do it 'for real' you're already experienced at it.
Also for the people who want to join raiding guilds or even server pugs for normal raids.
"PST experience and ilvl"
You can show you do know how the fights work and you're not a complete newb to the instance or the world of raiding in general.

I think this is the best thing blizz has done so far in making end game more accessible for new players.

So, you do Firelands, kill all the bosses but there's a major discussion before ragnaros with an idiot rushing in and pulling the boss just to cause a wipe, raid disbands. You're now forced to kill the entire raid, see items you want drop but be unable to roll on them just to kill the last boss.
Every time I get new info on the system, I feel less and less inclined to try it.

I think the lack of a lockout is also necessary because people may be placed into a half completed raid.

Think of when you queue for ZG/ZA and get a group on the last boss. This way you can still requeue later in the week and kill the other bosses.

@ GhostWhoWalks:
This is intended to make it difficult for raiders to get their tier bonuses. Tier bonuses are (mostly) very powerful additions to your gear, they should be difficult to earn. The 4 PC tanking bonuses are particularly powerful this coming tier.

If a mostly well geared raid group "pugged" into the raid finder...they might be able to very easily obtain their 2 and 4 pc bonuses this way....In some cases the bonus may outweigh the lower itemization on the "one missing set piece".

"So, there's little to no point to letting us repeatedly running it, unless we can get the valor repeatedly."

For fun? Isn't that the point of playing? :P