At what point did Goku earn the privilege of...

[Zarathustra]

...keeping his body in Otherworld?

I'd say after hamming up on Piccolo Daimao he was nailed on the cross from Enma Daio's POV.

[Daimo-Rukiri]

Defeating Piccolo Daimao? Doubt it. Son always fought the bad guys and won and also protecting the innocent.
He never showed any hostility towards anyone, Gohan probably gave a good word in to Enma.

[hleV]

When Kami asked Enma Daio.

[Zarathustra]

I think after perforating Piccolo Sr, Enma would have allowed him to keep his body.

[DBZ Mick]

Maybe his actions during the Red Ribbon Army arc and deciding to continue collecting the Dragonballs so he could wish Upa's father back.

[Kamiccolo9]

Doesn't one of Herms' guides say something about them being able to keep their bodies if they saved the world? If so, then I would say it was from stopping Piccolo Daimao.

[OmegaRockman]

Doesn't one of Herms' guides say something about them being able to keep their bodies if they saved the world? If so, then I would say it was from stopping Piccolo Daimao.

I'd say destroying the Red Ribbon Army would be enough. They were pretty big force to be reckoned with and would have probably quickly taken over the world through raw force (since the Dragon Balls were to be used for Red's height) had Goku not stopped them.

[Kamiccolo9]

Doesn't one of Herms' guides say something about them being able to keep their bodies if they saved the world? If so, then I would say it was from stopping Piccolo Daimao.

I'd say destroying the Red Ribbon Army would be enough. They were pretty big force to be reckoned with and would have probably quickly taken over the world through raw force (since the Dragon Balls were to be used for Red's height) had Goku not stopped them.

Possibly, but Piccolo Daimao is seen as the first really big threat. The Red Ribbon Army would have wanted to rule the world; Piccolo was going to gradually destroy it.

[djkalteraphine]

Definitely when he single-handedly used kung fu to take down an entire army built on world domination.

Remember, DB is a universe where using kung fu is the most important thing you can do. And Goku used kung fu to take down guns, rockets, tanks, and mechs, all while defending the innocent people of the DB World. Sure, Piccolo Daimao is a much bigger threat than RRA, but it isn't about who can take down the biggest baddie... it's about whether or not you can save people while doing awesome kung fu.

[FoolsGil]

The Red Ribbon Army weren't about committing genocide-at least, not yet. If it wasn't stopping Raditz then it was stopping King Piccolo.

[Saiyan Prince Vegeta]

Doesn't one of Herms' guides say something about them being able to keep their bodies if they saved the world? If so, then I would say it was from stopping Piccolo Daimao.

The Viz manga says that more or less.

DBZ 223
Goku: Hey I'm not being a martyr! They're going to give me special treatment here because I saved the planet. Regular people and bad guys like Cell turn into spirits, but I get to keep my own body, I won't age anymore...

[Kamiccolo9]

Doesn't one of Herms' guides say something about them being able to keep their bodies if they saved the world? If so, then I would say it was from stopping Piccolo Daimao.

The Viz manga says that more or less.

DBZ 223
Goku: Hey I'm not being a martyr! They're going to give me special treatment here because I saved the planet. Regular people and bad guys like Cell turn into spirits, but I get to keep my own body, I won't age anymore...

Awesome. I've read through the guides more recently than the manga though, so I guess that's why I thought of it first

[Saiga]

When he helped put a stop to Pilaf's wish.

[DBZAOTA482]

Doesn't one of Herms' guides say something about them being able to keep their bodies if they saved the world? If so, then I would say it was from stopping Piccolo Daimao.

The Viz manga says that more or less.

DBZ 223
Goku: Hey I'm not being a martyr! They're going to give me special treatment here because I saved the planet. Regular people and bad guys like Cell turn into spirits, but I get to keep my own body, I won't age anymore...

So basically Goku told his son that he'd rather have fun in the afterlife than to be with his family?

[Saiga]

Doesn't one of Herms' guides say something about them being able to keep their bodies if they saved the world? If so, then I would say it was from stopping Piccolo Daimao.

The Viz manga says that more or less.

DBZ 223
Goku: Hey I'm not being a martyr! They're going to give me special treatment here because I saved the planet. Regular people and bad guys like Cell turn into spirits, but I get to keep my own body, I won't age anymore...

So basically Goku told his son that he'd rather have fun in the afterlife than to be with his family?

Not at all.

[Zarathustra]

he was number one under the sun for so long, it makes sense to stay in Otherworld

Self-imposed exile scars you mentally but physically it is like a senzu smoothie

[Insertclevername]

Doesn't one of Herms' guides say something about them being able to keep their bodies if they saved the world? If so, then I would say it was from stopping Piccolo Daimao.

The Viz manga says that more or less.

DBZ 223
Goku: Hey I'm not being a martyr! They're going to give me special treatment here because I saved the planet. Regular people and bad guys like Cell turn into spirits, but I get to keep my own body, I won't age anymore...

So basically Goku told his son that he'd rather have fun in the afterlife than to be with his family?

He's trying to not make Gohan feel super guilty about the whole thing.

And Gokuu's an optimist.

[Bando]

I think it was saving the world from Piccolo Daimao. It ties up with Baba's prediction.