I quit a while ago, but have recently been trying to keep up with Square's efforts to rejuvenate the game. Even I've heard of a windower app with several plugins for the XIV client. Those are third party tools. Log/data parsers are third party tools. Recording software like fraps is a third party tool. One could even argue something like Photoshop is a third party tool.

A question is evidence of nothing. It does not even signify intent. For all you know, it could be weeding out applicants who assume it is referring to bots or hacks and have no problem employing them. You're taking what you see and inventing your own context, based on your own assumptions.

One can argue that it would be natural for some people to arrive at those assumptions, and that much is true. But again- this proves nothing. And why should they answer to your unsubstantiated accusations when it clearly will do nothing to change your mind?

As for the XI version of the LS hacking, do you have evidence of that? Whether it was considered to be widely accepted public knowledge or not, that isn't proof. And if you do have proof of the XI linkshell hacking, how does this automatically implicate the XIV linkshell? Whether there is any association or not, it's a stretch. A particular incarnation of the Patriots football franchise cheated. Does this mean all Patriots teams from now until the end of time are cheaters- especially without proof?

Whether you draw the association or not, whether you have difficulty shaking that association or not- it is fallacious. To take it one step further and post it publicly, attempting to posit that it is fact- slanderous.