Let's stop and take a step back here.

Dust 514 is a competitive game. But what does that mean? Let's take it's counterpart, EVE, for comparison.

I can safely say EVE is a competitive game. In both PVP and PVE. But EvE has many non competitive aspects as well, like mining and producing. The main source of competition though comes from PVP, Ship vs Ship battles. Like Dust, there are strength in numbers, so it's not all about having the best gear, but it still plays a huge part.

In EVE, having a better ship, and in some cases bigger ship, than the one you are going up against will win you the encounter. In equal matchups between ships, it comes down to the persons skills. And then you have your Fleets (squads) coordinating together to take down enemies. The biggest thing though for both EVE and Dust, is the competition, you play to win.

When it comes to competing against another person, you look for every way possible to win. I don't think there is any such thing as a cheap tactics or FOTM. We are here to compete, we are here to win. In Dust how is it that you interact with other players? There are Red dots and Blue dots! Dust has a hint of RPG elements to it, but it IS a competitive team based shooter.

People go into the FOTM, not because they are scrubs! Because they, like anyone else, WANT TO WIN. Like back when everyone was running around in a Cal Logi, that suit was the ****. Even then people were crying FOTM and hating them for it. You know why you feel that hate, because there is an imbalance between your choices, and their choices. It has nothing to do with the person that chooses the FOTM, no doubt you would feel differently if that had been your first choice. People don't choose the FOTM to be ******* dicks, they choose it because they want to win. That is the POINT of the game!

The fault lies fully with CCP, and no one else. People get so happy when something gets nerfed, and they make sure to let FOTM chasers know. Oh sorry, your suit sucks now, how does it feel? Oh, so what, you were jealous, and now you have to rub it in a players face, when it was CCP who allowed these imbalances!

And people LOVE to bring this up in Respec discussions. Here is what is happening though.

Player A chooses gimped weapon
Player B chooses FOTM

Player B murders Player A for several months, until CCP makes another crack at balancing.
Player B gets nerfed Player A and B on more equal footing.

So, you wouldn't want an FOTM chaser to get a respec, because they made you suffer for 3 months. So they should suffer too. Does anyone else see how childish this all is. THE PLAYERS HAVE NEVER BEEN AT FAULT FOR DOING ANY WRONG. They just play to win, which is how you SHOULD play. So people did their homework, and choose the most powerful suit. Sorry you didn't do the same?

FOTM has no place in a respec discussion, I mean jesus how often can a FOTM player be an FOTM player. After they nerf them, they cease to be FOTM, and now must grind out new suits. WHICH AT THIS POINT THEY NO DOUBT HAVE DONE. Is everyone that went into the new rail rifle and combat rifle FOTM chasers! Should they be fair and just put down their shiny toys in place of something on your level!

NO, adapt or die. Oh they have rail rifles, well guess I'll pull mine to counter. Tactics 101.

If you are not playing to win, you are not playing the game!