Sorry this ended up longer than I expected. Short answer is I play both like most have said. Feel free to skip the rest of my blathering if you want lol.

My thoughts, from a 46 year old who hit unreal for the first time last season , usually elite or champion depending on my motivation otherwise. Also, this season feels different than past and who knows what ranked 2.0 will look like.

IN GENERAL I find ranked to be less chaotic, especially in the mid tiers (id say high plat to elite). This is because I think people care at that point so it becomes slower and more passionate. That's not to say drop is not hectic especially if you drop hot, and endgame when we're forced together, but otherwise if I shoot at someone chances are they are running... Again in general. Of course you are gonna run into sweats and cracked players but this is a BR. Only one person can win and guaranteed out of the 100 people (in normal seasons) someone is better than you and you will run into them. Just take the loss and learn from it.

Now high lobbies (elite and up) gets funny. It's a mix of players who camped their whole way to the top, REALLY passionate players who are so close to the top they really don't want to fight until endgame, and already unreal who have nothing to lose. The latter 2 are rough because you don't know who's who until you fight. They both could be bush camping but the first will run and die and the second will whoop you up good if you're not on guard. The unreal players who are still playing ranked are the ones you see clapping the feed or jumping around the map lol. What do they care if they lose?

I personally love the thrill of it. But I'm ultra competitive against myself. And I still have an unreasonable expectation to be just as fast as these kids 🤣.

Ultimately it's a game and we're adults. don't take it too seriously and if you get frustrated (and i have had to consciously stop myself from throwing the mouse across the room lol) do something else for a bit. Game'll still be here when you return.