Wow, this thread has exploded since last night! To clear up a few things, I have read, that are incorrect.
1. The console ban WILL NOT "brick" your console, merely puts it on a list of consoles that CAN NOT connect to XBL. (That rumor is a remnant from the bans of 2009, where they corrupted the security sectors of the HDD)
2. Deleting WILL NOT help you avoid a ban, IF, you are already on the list for banning. That being said, most of the console bans are coming from playing the "offending" game online or multiplayer online. (like I said MOST)
3. Xval is mainly for checking to see if a modded console is going to be banned. (the console recorded a security event and is waiting to send it in to M$) Isn't really designed for the answers we need.
The best thing I, an ambassador myself, can recommend is: DO NOT play ANY offending material online or multiplayer online. It seems to be a part of the trigger for MOST bannings.
4. If you got banned for using the $1 for one month of gold or $2 for 2 months, fight it. That is unless you abused it. (I'm pretty sure you could use it up to 3 times without any problems) You can get those bans reversed, it has and does happen. The first person you talk to will tell you they can't do it, which is correct, THEY can't, nor will the next few people you talk to. BUT, when you get a engineer on the phone THEY can. You just have to push hard enough to get through to them.
On a personal note, just finished my Home Media Server, 5 TB of storage for the entire house media collection, YAY! Gonna start on a BA gaming PC, for myself, since M$ is killing their consoles with their recent OVERREACTION. And last, my son and daughter WILL NOT be getting the Xbone. I will take them back to Sony. I loved my PS2 for many years! Hopefully they will love the PS4 as much. I WILL, however, go out of my way to no longer support M$, in my personal life and business. (Kinda crazy like that. Yes, I'm one of those people who WILL NOT go to WALMART. So M$ is on MY Blacklist now and should be on yours as well.
BTW, not banned and don't expect to be.
Don't forget to take the poll:
http://poll.pollcode.com/453891_result?v