is doing that referring smurfs bull**** even time efficient for IP? that is, do you get IP boosts on your main that make up for the lost time you could've spent just playing more games on your main? if I have to play 5 games on a new smurf to get a 5 game IP boost, isn't that netting you nothing and just making you a worse player?
It's time efficient, we did the math a ways back, and we've already narrowed it down. One <10 minute game is 2.5 levels, and then you need 3 wins to hit 5. So let's say about 2 hours for a smurf to reach level 5.
Then on your main you basically net a total of about 600 ip. Assuming you were to play those three games on your main, you'd have 210 IP for your time.
That, and I also use it as a way to get a feel for champ mechanics before jumping into normal against a bunch of platinum players, and/or to build troll builds... not to mention every certain number of referrals you net additional swag.
Besides, you don't have to ruin it for people entirely, as we tend to try to coach the newbies into things they could do better if we full on smurf team. However lately we just play w/ a level 30 so that we get pitted against the more experienced players (double digit levels).
The ones that ruin the experience are the ones that talk smack to these obviously new players.
EDIT: Lol, Acolyte Lee Sin on sale, YES! And Nightblade Irelia... which I'll probably get in the meantime until that new Irelia skin goes on sale in half a year.