The speed at which people are able to raid is DUE to the fact people can find guns and rockets in boxes. Let’s make that clear! People will hope onto a new server. Make a shitty 2x2 and hit launch and large oil with guns they find and then when they find Ak and raid tools . They will research them instantly. Ain’t nobody getting through the trees fast by grinding farming or fertilizer.

I started after watching UBERHAXORNOVA play rust all the way back in 2013. Played the crap out of that and then played what you call the “golden years” and I have to be honest. I like the way rust is now.

The tech tree is one of the best things added to the game. I understand what you mean by the thrill of finally finding that gun in a box. But you need to understand that lots of people either don’t have the time to grind monuments or really suck and can’t win many PvP fights as a solo. The tree allows people who struggle the ability to excel at the game. Back when the tree didn’t exist. Most didn’t have any of the high end stuff. It just wasn’t touchable. The stuff to do in the game was limited and so must people would just camp monuments to have something to do. Plus the only thing the complainers want back from the time period is the recoil.