If Pete Rose was placed on the Hall ballot ONE TIME and one time only, as...?

No. Nothing stops a fanatic.

This will be debated as long as the 1919 Black Sox scandal, which is nearly 100 years old and still significant where and when there are Hall of Fame discussions/debates. Correct me if I am wrong but doesn't the Hall operate apart of MLB and their rules, and the Hall is a museum to represent the finest veterans this great pastime has ever seen. Until there is complete separation of the two (MLB and the HOF) and the voting block that is the BBWAA these debates will never stop. Yesterday it was Shoeless Joe, in the 80's Pete Rose, the 90's was the steroid era, only time will tell what we will debate tomorrow but i can assure you that someone will debate if Rose belongs in the Hall for a long long time.

There's nothing that could get the Rose fans to give up their quest. They'd see him get about 20-30% of the vote and be outraged.

If he had told the truth instead of lying for 18 years, maybe he would have been reinstatd and be in The Baseball Hall of Fame by now.

The pro-Rose groupies would continue to support the certified lier and convicted felon.

No, they'd continue to be loud and misinformed...

Ichiro Suzuki > Peter Rose

If he didn't bet on games, he would be in there already.

No, they will not give up, those people are sick, obsessive compulsive disorders.

They'll never give up.