I just signed up with RPM Poker (by reputation the best site on Merge network).  I was able to try it out and play in some freerolls without making a deposit (I am going to wait a bit more until I feel confident enough to take full advantage of the first deposit bonus).

There are some good things going for it.  Excellent support (I clicked the Live Chat link on the site about 3 times and got someone instantly each time..the samer person no less) and a client which seems decent for a small site (it's in java so they have a Mac installer).  Great game variety (if they ever get big enough that all of them have action).  I don't see RPM on TPE's rakeback list but you can get 35% rakeback directly from RPM (I just gave the Live Chat guy my username and that was all). 

With respect to your question on how long until the former land of the free's morality police knock on their doors, obviously no one knows for sure. At their current size (less then 10K at peak today) it seems a lot less likely that they have problems than if they start getting super big.

I'm strongly considering going back to bodog but still weighing the options.  Only reason I'm considering bodog is I had never had any issue with payouts or support.  Plus I know for certainty there processers are not on US soil.  Anyone know of anyone (other sites) with current site reviews.  I had heard the same thing Potty regarding RPM.  They were actually talking about RPM on Quad Jacks the other night.  Local athorities are now cracking down on “charity” poker games running in my area which was gaonna be an option for the present but thats out now too.

Just to clarify my earlier post, I think it would be foolish to deposit any amount of money that is significant to you on a US facing site right now.  It is putting the money at risk even if you believe the wonderul U.S. government isn't going after them right away.  Like RFB, I decided to deposit $200 on merge–I was willing to accept the risk for that amount of money.  But it was as much an act of defiance toward a government at which I am very angry right now rather than what I would call a prudent use of funds.

Slingtown said:

 

How do you guys think the competition is gonna be on the merge network?

I think it will be relatively tough given the level of player that will go through the trouble of seeking them out and depositing.  However I think the lower stakes will always be beatable everywhere.  Just not as beatable as in an open environment.

It will take more than a few thousand new US players to make these tourneys noticiably tougher. I've been playing there since late 2010 and they had about 5000 players at peak times now its usually around 8-9000. The tourney fields are only about 20-25% bigger. The evening 3r's mostly had about 300 players prior to black friday now they have around 400-450. There have always been US players there just bad ones .

One thing I do hate is their payout structure especially in rebuys where they pay 50 out of 400 but 50-30 don't get enough to even cover buyins most of the time. Even if you just rebuy once and addon ($9 + fee) 50-40th will pay like $7 which is just stupid. Pay less people more money IMO.