You know squads originally were 4-man, right?

Six man squads were absolutely dominating pub matches. This change is for the better. If you want to grab all of your friends and try to dominate a match, be prepared to start doing it in FW.

I know a 4 man Negative Feedback or Nyain San squad is going to be brutal as well, but for some reason it seems like people will like their odds better if they are only facing 4 instead of 6. People may feel there is a chance.

Also, 16 / 4 = 4. So , we can have 4 different 4 person squads in 1 match. Instead of a 6/6/4. Doesn't that just make more sense? The current squad limits always seemed wierd to me. Make it evenly divisible. 4/8/16 = pub/FW/PC. Seems logical.

Also, the idea of 4 4 person squads on each side for a skirm match would be fan - freaking - tastic.

....it worked

No. Its because: "You signed up for this."

First, you gave a bad description for FW. It is "Skirmish with (a much higher chance) more team coordination that you opt into, presumably knowing what you are getting into". Its not like people just "wander" in FW (Which is why the 'zero barrier of entry' description is a bad one), and if they do, then they shouldn't. FW is for people who choose to play against more organized squads. Pubs do not have that condition, and therefore are fundamentally different

I believe that the changes for Pubs is trying to reduce the compounding negative effect of squads on match quality by making "12 communicating team mates" situations more challenging to create. Because communication between squad and team members in pubs is generally low, squads that have communication have a large advantage. Teams that have communication have even larger advantages. Additionally, larger squad sizes (obviously) cause players who do communicate to group together. So the changes to pubs is designed to make it logistically and statistically less likely for 12 or more people with mics get into the same battle on the same side. To do that after the changes, you would need three squad leader, and you are more likely to be paired against another squad than put on the same side.

In contrast, the changes to FW are designed to make it easier for people who are already communicating to group against other groups that are already communicating. The metrics to judge match quality - i.e. how many orbitals are used - have expanded upper and lower bounds because FW is a less regulated and more competitive space.

@Tesfa

Pubs are meant for everyone, beginner and vet alike. Four man squads in Pubs make matchmaking and team building easier so there are fewer stomps.

FW is taking gameplay up a notch. Its not necessarily meant for beginners. There is no matchmaking or team building in FW.

There needs to be a game mode for new and more casual players to play, hence the changes. Dust doesn't have null, high, and low sec areas like Eve does.

Four man squads will help make pub matches more even, and increase the probability of player retention.