I don't like the PDT rule simply because I don't have much more then 25k to work with. I can make small gains with small amounts, but if I do not have a significant amount above the min, 1 bad trade can take me under the min, freezing my account.
I have reached the stage of trading where I have several weeks of small gains, then wipe it out with 1 or 2 oversized trades. I try to view my risk as only the excess above 25,000. When I do this my size stays small, and I make a little. If I use the entire risk of the account, it's back to the drawing board as my stops get to tight, and I'm stopped out with large enough losses to get me closer to the edge of the account, which then becomes a psychological factor (will the next loss take me out of the game? better up my size and try get some breathing room). Of course, by then, I'm not looking at the charts, I'm looking at my account. I'm not a lucky individual, so the results don't need to be stated here. I believe if I could day trade a much smaller account without the fear of the account being frozen, I would be enjoying a more consistent success rate. I would then be able to keep my risk proportional to my account size, my biggest problem currently.
Since I don't have enough money to up my account in a meaningful way, I will continue to view the limits as an obstacle to overcome in my learning curve. Simply follow my size rules, don't get mad, no problem. Break rules, lose money.
The SEC will never change the rule. Look how long it took to get rid of the uptick rule. Some brokers like IB fought the PDT rule, stating it would make it difficult for small traders to succeed. I believe a few of the issues that give me trouble would qualify. I think traders could make money more easily with a 5,000 dollar margin account with 4-1 day. I would love to see that. I could then use my capital in several accounts, 1 for swing trading where I wouldn't have to worry about a swing play taking my account under the min.
I agree with the comment about swing trading (I have a tiny swing account), but I'm nervous about swings right now (especially in my PDT account). The current market is not friendly to longs, and my bigger concern, if I'm short, the fed or some rumormonger at CNBC can crush me quickly, even with small size. Prefer to go home flat in the current market.
It would be interesting to see a stat comparing the daytraders who succeeded because of the current PDT rules against those who failed because of the rules.
If I can't raise my PDT account to 30k with my trades by 09, I may give the E Mini's a try in a small account. I track them every day, so not totally unfamiliar with them.