Well..... this is a generally angry rant. but most people here would disagree with you, myself included.
I prefer the ranking system as i see no need for a true skill system.
As for Halo turning into CoD, I hate CoD, And while i see the Similarities in the systems both games use, CoD wasn't the first game to have all those systems. The Gaming industry now is always taking inspiration from other games. the only fully original game i've played lately was XCOM, and that was a sequel. Game dev's are afraid to try making anything new due to the success pre-established IP's are seeing.
And as far as the Halo feel being gone, All I feel playing CoD is rage that someone can make money off of such a lazy product.
In Halo 4 I can enjoy the story, Game play and Multiplayer the same as i could in any other game.