We all know Halo has never had a perfect ranking system because developers want to kill boosting or because of boosting itself. Halo 4 is about to get hit with it's own Waypoint 1-50, but it's only visible to you. I think it's better than nothing, but some people still want more, as always. Some people can't be satisfied with a system like this. I had an idea in the old pre-Halo 4 days that would have been nearly perfect. 343 is implementing this idea. However, as I said, it's on Waypoint. Well, I just revolutionized my idea a bit more. Hear me out, then post your own idea. Try to make something new. We've all heard "HALO 3!!!" by now.
So, here's my idea.
Your dreaded progression system makes a return. It has to if they keep the loadout system, since it isn't fair for a poor 3 to be unable to get the level 50 weapon that he so badly wants. Really, being bad at a game should not bar you from gameplay mechanics and items. Emblems are a different story. I think a 50 in Halo 3 might just deserve something those 40's can't have. Like I said, the progression system returns, but you have a skill system alongside it. Not trueskill. Something more accurate. Something that's harder to boost. I had an idea for a 1-100 that uses your k/d, w/l, medals, AND shot accuracy to put together an accurate and sound skill rating for a player. Don't ask for formulas, I'm not good at those.
To make it harder to boost, just make it so that matchmaking requires players to be within 5 skill ranks to be matched up. That means your 94 buddy can't boost his 77 customer. That 94 has to be anywhere from 72-82 to be matched with him. And winning against higher ranks does not make your skill bump up any more than winning against a team 5 levels below you. None of that classic boosting.
Basically, you have your progression system and a sound skill system working alongside it. The skill would be shown in-game. I think it's better to just put it on the card for everyone to see. Bragging rights are not an excuse to take it out. Maybe I want to see what the other team has on me.
So, say you finish the progression system and you are rated at skill level 87. It would show, in Halo 4's terms:
SR-130
CSR-87
You'd see that on the player card. Your progression rank has no effect on your CSR rank. That's my idea. What's yours?
And...GO!