You are mistaken. According to The Official Records and Rules Book of the Billiard Congress of America, a scratch (foul) results in the opponent being granted ball in hand anywhere on the table, not behind the headstring. The only exception is if the player performing the opening break misses the rack entirely, in which case the cue ball is placed behind the headstring and the incoming player has the option of shooting or making the same player break again.
Another nice thing would be to provide a "roll out" or "shoot out" option after a break in which no ball is pocketed but the incoming player is snookered. In real 9ball, the player has the option to call a "safety" and shoot the ball to a spot without being required to hit the one ball. The next player then has the option of shooting or making the same player shoot again.(passing the shot) This eliminates the possibility of a player using the "roll out" in any other way than than to keep from being unfairly harmed by an accidental snooker off the break.
Now what would
really
be cool for both 9 ball and 8 ball would be to make the game "call shot". In real pool, there's none of this slop (fluke) business.
That one change would elevate the quality of the game immeasurably.
While I am at it... add this one last change to my wish list. In 8 ball and 9 ball "A legal shot requires that the cue ball's first contact be with the lowest numbered ball (9ball, stripe or solid in 8ball of course) on the table. A player must (1) pocket a ball where called or (2) cause the cue ball or any object ball to contact a cushion. Failure to meet this requirement is a foul. This change would eliminate the defensive shot in which a player gently banks the cue ball off the rail to hide it behind one of his own balls without driving either to a rail AFTER contact as required, thereby snookering the opponent. Snookering your opponent is a great defensive tactic, but it should have to be done legally.
Over the past 2 or 3 years, FlyOrDie has made numerous changes to bring the game closer to the "real thing". Some of the best changes have been to make the rules more like the official ones. Keep up the good work!
P.S Before y'all start in... I know that rules vary from country to country... I quoted north American rules here because it seems that for the most part, FlyOrDie has elected to adopt north American rules.
Nεmεsιs - one of the FOD old timers