This really warrants its own thread, but here's a quick rundown of what I think.
I love making suitable proxies and nice counts as for malifaux models. Especially, but not limited to models that havent been released yet. I genuinely get a kick out of making a model not many people will yet own, and being able to use it. An example of this is I made a weaver widow. Also, if I dont like the original models, or cant think of a sub, or dont like the rules for a particular model will occasionally run something else as them, or count them as something else. An example of this is I have 5 M&SU rioters, with mining gear and stuff. I run them as desperate mercs, as I want to run a few of them and dont quite like the union miner rules. I run them as customers at the star theatre, rioters, miners, whatever in my arcanist crews. I also dont like the rules for guild guard... I might use those models (who I like very much) as desperate mercs in any guild crews I run.
On the flip side, I do get bummed out when people use bad proxies. I've not yet refused a game, but depending on my mood, I can see it happening in future. What annoys me is not just subbing in something as a one off, eg, a primordial magic as a arcane effigy, who doesnt yet have a model, and you'd like to try the rules, I find this pretty fine. On top of that, if you were to continue using the primordial magic as the effigy, because you liked its rules, Id probably be fine with that. But when the actual models released, using the primordial magic just because you dont want to buy and paint the arcane effigy is very poor show, in my opinion.