The fluff restriction is that they can grow only energy based weapons AND that they can't grow targeting arrays (also known as an AA-Mount) good enough to hit fast moving high flying aircrafts .

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Is that in the Chaos Marine Codex or Apocalypse or where?

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Aye, theoretically they can spawn any weapon, but then why not Deathstrike Missiles.
Theoretically Orks can make anything work like a gun by making bang noises.

A lot of 40k background is retarded basically.

I can only fault the Oblit on the grounds that is mind-numbingly boring in a wargame to have a model that has an answer for everything (more so the 40k version than Epic).
A part of wargaming is that you must include a wide variety of units to cope with various different situations and enemies. Swiss army knives defeat the exercise.

The kind of weapons it can grow is stated in the Codex.

As for the AA stuff nowhwere is it mentioned that they shoot down aircrafts.

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As I've said several times, I think it just needs to be kept simple.

I'm not in favour of an extra AA unit 'just because' when most comparable lists get by with one, which just has to suck up being deployed in non-optimal positions (like a lone Hydra Garrisoned with an infantry co). If the main reason for including the stalker is "I want my army to have more AA options than it's opponents" then I'm sorry but go play Eldar.
On the other hand, if an Oblit with any AA capability is deemed the wrong fit then fair enough let's have something else instead and the Oblit can go back to being just an upgrade choice, competing with what would then be similar upgrade choices like Havocs and Cult Marines for peoples points.

As it stands yes the Obliterators are nigh on mandatory, and good value for points, but they do force a particular playing style and deny the Black Legion quite a bit of mobility, at the end of the day I'm not looking for an advantage, just a balanced and playable army...

The way i see it at present is that BL lists aren't particulary balanced.  They tend towards extremes, either being predominently infantry or War engine based.  Armoured vehicles are skipped over completely.  This is not the mark of a balanced list.

I for one think the Oblits are to blame for this.  They're just too good at everything not to take.  Dropping their AA and adding in the Stalker changes this dynamic completely and also removes a lot of issues that people have with the BL list: The war engine list and the equally irritating infantry hoarde that invalidates any and all AT weapons the opponent has with it's unsupressable AA of doom.

There is no information that would support your theory. The poll isn´t about Oblits in the first place, but on whether to include the Stalker or not if you care to have a look.
Your cynicism is misplaced IMO.

For the record, I consider myself a "Chaos Player" very much and voted "Yes"

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Well, many people are commenting in the SM section that they would consider Land Raiders @ 75 points and Predators @ 50 points as viable options, in the SM list, so that would be including ATSKNF. The Vindicator is being rated as still overpriced @ 50 points. Go figure what this says for the same tanks in the BL list.

I have tried Armoured Companies and mechanized Retinues with (some) Land Raiders several times and always felt not very competive. BM quickly pile on pure armour formations rendering them ineffective, while the mech Retinues are hugely expensive and quickly lose their speed after 1 or 2 tanks are down.

Going all-infantry is a viable strategy IMO, which has plenty of downsides say lack of mobility and lack of AT punch for starters.

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Agreed, at the risk of going even further OT.
Further to that the marines get specialist predators (not that I ever see any Destructors).

If the armoured co was something like 225 points for 6 Predators/Vindicators, with upgrades something like add up to 3 more +35 points each, a Stalker for +50 and replace Preds with Land Raiders for +25 each then I might be tempted, as it is they're a poor choice next to the Infantry and War Engines that are available
The whole list structure has always kind of (and now really does) push you to take at least two Retinues, which is a good thing but doesn't leave too many points to spaff on big armoured companies....

I do agree tbh.  5 Falcons are 250 pts with the Eldar movement bonuses and skimmer.  So 225 for 6 preds seems infinitely reasonable.

I wouldn't allow add-ons, as you're getting into armoured company territory there but the option to upgrade vehicles is quite a good idea.  You could even allow preds to be upgraded to stalkers for free but up to a max of say 2 - like with Falcons and firestorms.

In the Iron Warriors list, which has non AA oblits and the stalker designated AA unit I used the stalker as an upgrade to a csm formation in rhinos. The AA was in a good formation (not like a vehicle in an infantry formation as you stated) and served it purpose. At the same time this enabled to to have a mobile formation. I don't see why it wouldn't be possible in the black legion.

As for oblits morphing AA weapons. well I see AA as big weapon systems designated for this purpose (with targetting equipment), not as a missile launcher/lascannon etc We can imagine obliterator weapons to be used against hovering skimmers in the fluff, but trying to shoot down a bomber on the altitude of 20000ft or more  with an infantry heavy weapon (like those from 40k they can morph) seems idiotic. We might as well have them morph into Baneblades next, why not?

And to people who will use the argument 'it's chaos! it is possible!'... better go add another set of arms to you Chaos lords so they can carry and extra chainaxe, it's chaos after all  

Well, the aircraft making attacks in EPIC are not performing that kind of high altitude/strategic bombing, but are doing Close Air Support strafing/dive-bombing, so it seems reasonable for infantry-portable weapons to engage them, especially morphed energy weapons.

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..Nor do I, the rest of my post goes on to say as much..

What I'm not in favour of is 2 ground units with AA, because then everyone will have stalkers in their mobile formations and Oblits in their garrisons and teleporters, arguably a worse situation than we have now.
The more I think about it the more I am coming around to the Stalker and an AA-less Obliterator as a good solution, I still think that the Armoured Company (which then becomes one of the AA-carrying formations) needs looking at though, does anyone take them on a regular basis?

When was the last time infantry shot down an aircraft (not helicopter )with an unguided weapon?
Even at a low altitude strafing run jet engine aircrafts are way to fast to be shot down with ..say...an ordinary missile launcher or MG.

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No idea... I don't think any infantry are equipped with direct energy weapons today...     Which is what Obliterators are armed with.

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