"This breaks the very rules set by the claimant, that all complex systems require a creator. "
No it doesn't because Chippy didn't realise he was talking only of Creation .. not the Creator.
"If a creator can be eternal, so can a universe, so can life without a creator, therefore the rule imposed by the theist who says complexity requires a creator is meaningless, something cooked up in defence of a belief in god."
No, again that is imposing the attributes, rules and limitations of creation, on the Creator and limiting what He can or cannot be. Though theists regularly do this, they are in fact the least qualified to do it.
Theists are proposing and trying to defend an anthropomorphic God (I can almost spell that without looking now) and so, are sitting ducks for your finely honed shafts of logic and meaning.
I have no such limitation and find the role of Devil's advocate useful for exploring all sides of a question.
