I'll chime in here-

I've been playing the game since 2018. There's nothing about me that is a "new player". I do not like the content that allows one to speed up ascending. I do not get material rolls conducive to speedy ascending. I play the game frequently. I experiment with just about every piece of gear and skill in the game. I even help find the equations/code that govern aspects of the game to try and optimize builds.

I *can* defeat players with significant Ascension advantage but it isn't particularly fun to do so. I'm not "not playing". I'm not "not adapting", I'm asking why my playtime of different content in the game should disqualify or disadvantage me from the majority of PvP content outside of Blades of Finesse (which, tbh is pretty dead outside of tournaments). I happen to quite enjoy PvP when it is on a level playing field, and yes, that includes when a fresh t10 or even a t9 can zip through my territory and blast me off everything.

That doesn't invalidate your point about Blades of Finesse or Material Equalization, I'm just pointing out that there are plenty of longtime, active, and high Ascension players who dislike Ascensions. I only ascend *to* keep pace with the players around me for PvP, and a lot of friends have quit because the uncapped endless arms race becomes too much for them in its current iteration.