You ever wonder why halo 3 was one of XBL's most actively played games for 5+ years? (Hint: it wasn't because of credits or social) it was because there is no feeling( in video games) like playing on your 49 and knowing that your 50 could e up for grabs and could come down to one person getting one extra BR shot on someone for the game winning Out BRing. Or completely dominating a team that looks to be stacked with generals and humiliating them.(general can only be achieved once ur a 50, not just by playing the game for countless hours) just like there is nothing more frustrating playing on your 49 being one win away and just getting destroyed. See a trend? When you play for something, you play with passion. Passion goes beyond the entertainment aspect of the game. The entertainment aspect only goes so far that's why with call of duty people always get psyched up for it and play the crap of it for about 3-6 months until they are bored with it( that's what happened with many gamers with halo reach as well.) that's why there are so many COD games because they have to keep pumping them out to keep their fans entertained. Also why they are finally putting a ranking system in their latest black ops 2. Because that's how you keep people playing. Give them something to compete for. It shouldn't be about showing up and ranking up. On those standards an 11 year old kid who plays 12 hours a day will have way better rank and armor just because he has more free time than me? Does that seem fair? It should be about both to be honest because I get it some people love halo Nd suck at it at the same time. (Hence the genius move to have a progression AND rank system in halo 4) also why does anyone who doesn't like it care? Just go play social( or whatever name they label it in th game) you can use the progression system and us hardcore gamers will play competitive and use the rank system. You don't have to get mopped up by us and we don't have to deal with your whole rant of (choose one) cheating, you have no life, use more host, or and my favorite go outside and meet girls (been a committed relationship for two years so yeah that one always makes me laugh.) bottom line is thank you 343 for hearing the players and giving us what we wanted. Thank you for fixing what bungie broke.