Oh, and by the way, if "placed" doesn't mean "placed" with respect to the mark, what precisely IS it referring to?
The rule has nothing to do with the BALL being placed, so to argue that the ball is being placed is nonsensical.
Actually, under the rules of golf, the ball is being REplaced.
So if the ball is being REplaced, please explain the definition of "placed" that makes replacement of the ball and placement of the mark mutually exclusive. Because that's what you're arguing. And if you're going to argue it, you've got to have support for it, don't you think?
Chris, there is none. You've got a theory that results in an apple being an orange, or better yet, a toilet seat. It just doesn't make any sense....
I'm not arguing that the ball is being placed. Maybe JES was but not me. Yes, the ball is being replaced.
I'm just saying that if you go by the strict language of the decision, then the USGA must not consider a pen mark on the ball to be a "mark placed". It has to be a "mark", doesn't it? (How can a pen mark not be a mark?)
So what's left? Maybe they don't consider it "placed". They probably consider "placed marks" to be tangible things--things you set down on the line like a coin, or behind the hole like the pin, or behind the ball like a tee, or in front of your feet or on your shoes or in your belt loops
like a club. I'll bet if you put a piece of string on top of the ball that served the same purpose as the cheater line it would be a "placed mark" and therefore a violation.
So if it's not "placed", not "placeable", then the USGA must not see the pen mark or trademark as something existing independently of the ball; therefore they must be part of the ball.
And since, you're right, it doesn't make sense for the ball with a line on it to be considered a "placed mark" (the mark is a part of the ball; a mark on the ball doesn't make the whole ball a mark), then they don't consider someone using a cheater line to be using a "mark placed to indicate a line for putting".
I don't know if I agree with all this or not (that's one of the questions I've asked of the USGA), but if you go strictly by the language of the rules then that's my best guess for now.