I log in to play PvP. I do not log in to sit in a queue simulator for hours, score two matches, and then be locked out of a dead season due to sheer inactivity. If Square Enix has any genuine ambition for a healthy PvP scene, the current design isn't just neglectful it's actively punitive. This is a punishment for wanting to engage with the mode.

The Core Problem, Summarized:

Dead Queues: Ranked is a ghost town. Waits are measured in hours, not minutes, for the vast majority of players outside peak windows.
Self-Sabotaging Fragmentation: The division between Casual and Ranked, coupled with data center isolation and talk of per-job ranking, shatters an already small player base into unsustainable pieces.
Enforced Incompetence: The forced muting of team chat in a mode that demands coordination is a design paradox that undermines any pretense of competitive integrity.

Why This Design is Objectively Flawed (Not an Opinion, It's System Dynamics):

1. The Death Spiral of Time: Players queue expecting a reasonable chance to play. When queue times become unpredictable and excessive, the expected value of queuing drops to zero. They leave. Fewer players mean even longer queues, which drives more players away. This is a basic, predictable negative feedback loop. The current system is engineered to fail.
2. The Incentive Vacuum: "Bragging rights" and a single glamour set are not a reward structure. They are a one-time participation trophy. Healthy PvP requires recurring, tangible incentives seasonal cosmetics, unique mounts, rank-specific currency, titles to maintain player engagement and lower churn. We have none.


Concrete, Implementable Solutions:

Solo/Duo Queue: This is non-negotiable. It is the standard for 5v5 competitive games for a reason. It allows friends to play together while drastically increasing the available player pool for matchmaking. The technology and design principles exist in every other major title.
Dynamic Matchmaking: Implement a "Ranked-First" queue that prioritizes perfect matches but can intelligently relax rank boundaries during off-peak hours to form games, with strict bounds to maintain integrity. Inactivity is a greater threat to competition than a slightly wider MMR spread in a low-pop scenario.
Restore Communication (With Safeguards): The solution to toxicity is not amputation. Enable opt-in text chat for Ranked only, paired with robust moderation tools, cooldowns, and swift penalties for abuse. Empower players to coordinate; do not force them into silent frustration.
Cross-Data-Center Ranked: Merge the queues. The player pool is too small to be divided by artificial server lines. Implement intelligent sharding to preserve ping quality and competitive brackets.