Current rating system can't accurately place lowest performing players

[Zojha]

Don't know why you don't think rating can't be relateable to skill.

I'm inclined to wager because you didn't read my post thoroughly, because I explicitly called it a broad hint, which indicates a relation.
If someone keeps a low rating, he's probably bad - probably because the rating is distorted through numerous factors and there is reason to doubt that the active PvP population is a statistically representative sample for the whole - chances are, good players are more likely to play regularly and there is a selection bias.
If someone rises to a high rating, he's probably good - probably because wintrading and boosting exist and you know it. It happened last season, but surely the guys in question just had a sudden skill explosion/implosion.

However, with the rating distortion factors, you just plain cannot say two people of the same rating are equally skilled - which means it is not accurate - A DRK with the same rating as a WAR is most likely higher skilled than the WAR, rather than equally. It's not accurate in bronze, it's not accurate in silver and it's not accurate anywhere else, because it cannot be accurate under the given circumstances. You could scrap it entirely and have completely arbitrary tier promotion/demotion series instead, better players are still more likely to win those on average (thus having a higher chance of getting/keeping the higher tier) while worse players would stay lower and accuracy wouldn't considerably suffer in the long run. Which is why I think the inaccuracy at bronze you point out is a non-issue and a rating system as such is pointless, seeing as the point of a rating system is to provide an accurate skill metric, rather than a shotgun approach.

And since there is precedence of you making assumptions, let me spell it out: This neither means that the rating system must be scrapped nor that the Feast must be scrapped and I suggest neither. For one, while interconnected, they are not one and the same, for another, there's no point removing pointless systems unless they do harm and the rating system only does harm if you fall for the illusion of accuracy. I do suggest however not to put any more work into it until the population issue is fixed and we can have proper, job specific Elo for our matchmaking rating.

Lastly, I would refrain from hollow ad hominem - it's not good style. But that's just me.

[Aviars]

If someone rises to a high rating, he's probably good - probably because wintrading and boosting exist and you know it. It happened last season, but surely the guys in question just had a sudden skill explosion/implosion.

In party que yes, but the matchmaking we are discussing is about solo que. And if they are getting someone else to play their account in solo que, then there is still skill behind it, really doesn't detract from the fact that it's a better player climbing the ranks.

However, with the rating distortion factors, you just plain cannot say two people of the same rating are equally skilled - which means it is not accurate - A DRK with the same rating as a WAR is most likely higher skilled than the WAR, rather than equally. It's not accurate in bronze, it's not accurate in silver and it's not accurate anywhere else, because it cannot be accurate under the given circumstances. You could scrap it entirely and have completely arbitrary tier promotion/demotion series instead, better players are still more likely to win those on average (thus having a higher chance of getting/keeping the higher tier) while worse players would stay lower and accuracy wouldn't considerably suffer in the long run. Which is why I think the inaccuracy at bronze you point out is a non-issue and a rating system as such is pointless, seeing as the point of a rating system is to provide an accurate skill metric, rather than a shotgun approach.

Now you are grasping at straws but what you are saying is irrelevant. If the person playing dark knight gets to a certain rating then they got to the certain rating that is attainable as a dark knight, they are placed where they should be if they manage to get out of the unranked/bronze hole. Class balance has absolutely nothing to do with matchmaking.

And since there is precedence of you making assumptions, let me spell it out: This neither means that the rating system must be scrapped nor that the Feast must be scrapped and I suggest neither.

I see no point in having a rating system in the first place.

Maybe you should read what you say first before making the assumption about what you think you said.

For one, while interconnected, they are not one and the same, for another, there's no point removing pointless systems unless they do harm and the rating system only does harm if you fall for the illusion of accuracy. I do suggest however not to put any more work into it until the population issue is fixed and we can have proper, job specific Elo for our matchmaking rating.

There is accuracy the higher up we go. However like I said there is no wiggle room near the bottom of the food chain that there are people who can be considered what worse than others are considered equal to those who aren't as bad. Also you suggesting that a simple fix shouldn't be exploited to help out the current base versus SE completely overhauling PVP to fix the population problem doesn't make a lot of sense, and you should realize that.

Lastly, I would refrain from hollow ad hominem - it's not good style. But that's just me.

It may not be, but it accurately describes the notion that everyone on top must be wintraders, boostees or cheaters. If you skim off the top and have a new top then are they wintraders and cheaters too? It will never end. Before you say I'm making a assumption.

If someone rises to a high rating, he's probably good - probably because wintrading and boosting exist and you know it. It happened last season, but surely the guys in question just had a sudden skill explosion/implosion.