I think the whole thing about the Halo was that people who used the external idling program, rather than idling "legitimately," didn't get Halos, and those who idled with the game actually running did. The fact that Valve actually put the Halo in was a pretty big deal. Beyond that, I have no clue why people discriminated based on it.
Funny thing is, despite using the program, I figured I was in the clear, since I deleted all my duplicate items (I never got a hat from all of this; I'm pretty unlucky). When I got the alert that all my infringing items were removed, I checked to see what was gone.
It was a Razorback. One Razorback stood between me and a Halo. I deleted my other one, so I didn't know that I got another from the program.
I have a Halo now, since they gave them out again later, but it was still a dumb thing back then.
I remember being pissed off about the Halo fiasco way back when.
But now I use the display name "Jesus" (with matching avatar) and have the halo equipped on my Medic all the time. Works even better with the Meet The Medic Taunt, as I stride across the land healing all who call my name.
Everything worked out in the end, is my point.