I get most crossword answers I don't know from a Chambers program I bought and installed on my computer. I know of a few random sites that can solve any others.
By the time answers are requested on AB the same things could be googled very very easily.
Unfortunately, I think the quiz section is becoming a home for the impatient and lazy, especially when there are money prizes involved.
I think that there are two types of people doing the cross words, the ones that just want to finish it and are after a prize,
and the ones who enjoy doing the crossword, enjoy the challenge, and the information that you pick up along the way.
Mr S and I enjoy our cross words and work together to find the answers, with a dictionary, a pile of fact books, google when we hit a brick wall, and then AB when we have exhausted all avenues.
I think the point in your original post is a reasonable one, but it's a question of a sense of proportion I think.
Having separate sections makes the site much easier to use, and the Ed did consult with users a few months ago about reclassifying sections and one of the agreed changes was to separate Crosswords from Q&P.
Initially i thought I was being helpful by answering crossword clues in Q&P and then politely (or so I thought) pointing out that there was a separate section now for Crosswords just below Q&P which they may prefer to use.
But I received quite a few comments along the lines of 'get a life' and 'AB section police', and even a suggestion i made on Ed's blog to re-position Crosswords or put a message on Q&P was not taken up by the Ed who preferred to leave things as they are. I even managed to really irritate Lie-in King and Mamyalynne , so I stepped back as I felt I was seen as interfering rather than helping.
The general view seems to be that a crossword is a puzzle and crossword fans seem not to mind if questions go in Q&P. Some posters even prefer it as Crosswords gets busy so Q&P can come in useful as an overflow.
I still find I get answers quicker on Q & P, I am not lazy, but have tried all other avenues before checking with AB, ( I scroll down first before asking).
Yes I do the crosswords to win, any crossword I do that does not have a prize then I do not ask, don't wish to waste space and time.
Good luck to all those doing crosswords and puzzles, hope someone here has a nice win.
T