When I was the director for an annual 10k run in Sonoma County I absolutely hated bandits. The proceeds went to a local community non-profit group, and the runners who bypassed registration were the scum of the earth as far as I was concerned....
I would have no problem with these folks, as long as they don’t accept prizes. EXCEPT, they take up space. There is a limit to participation for a reason. If you’ve ever watched one of these races, it is a sea of runners packed curb to curb. It is not fair if these unpaid bandits get in the way of serious contenders who have paid their fees.