Earnings Management

Most accounting students think that accounting reporting is a precise measurement. The ability to use estimates to report financial results may affect earnings quality. Do you think that earnings quality is affected because of needed estimates? Why or why not? Depending on your answer here, does the FASB need to continue to allow estimates? If not, what should replace the estimates?

Regarding the ethical aspects of manipulating the accounting standards to present better or worse results of financial statements, would a manager manage earnings to make the bottom line look worse? Is earnings management unethical or illegal? What is the difference?