In Battlefield and Call of Duty it comes down to player skill and to a someextent what weapon you're using. In Dust 514 is both of those factors but we're also mixing in the variability of power leveled gear.

There is a great desire, especially from members of the community that are pro-tieracide, for that sort of power leveled gear to have even less of an effect on the overall flow of battle. We can all generally agree that an Amarr Assault with an SCR should have every advantage over a Cal Assault with an SCR ( armor tanker with anti-shield weapon against shield tanker with an anti-shield weapon). That advantage gets skewed if said player is using, say, Militia gear and his opponent is using Prototype.

Power levels like that create an artificial inflation of power in the overall balance scheme, hence the moniker, and it dillutes the feeling of preparation, tactics, and player skill. Despite having every advantage the Amarr Assault could still very likely lose simply because the Cal Assault spent more ISK (which is why we run into problems like PC District Locking/Alt Farming). This is especially true for new players who simply don't have the ISK -and- skill benefits to compete.

Progression should not entitle you to such a powerful advantage when it already gives you permanent, passive skill bonuses (+5% armor per level) and active bonuses from Dropsuits (+5% heat build reduction per level). In that context, Tieracide is extremely beneficial. We lose a sense of progression, absolutely, but that sense of progression comes at the cost of the overall balance of power. Players feel gypped out of a win simply because they didn't shell out as much ISK as the other guy ontop of simply not having the longevity bonus of skill application, regardless of tactics and preparation.

You actually just proved my point, though... The example you gave shows that the disparity between what will essentially become a Dropsuit with a Standard Power Core versus a Prototype Power Core will be lessened and those that run Standard Power Cores will be more effective as a result, that the advantages would come mostly from skill investment and proper fitting structure rather than simply shelling out ISK.

You've never played Crysis?

Worst. Dev. Ever.

Dude, it is on Steam, I will buy it for you if you play it. It'll revolutionize your life.... Barring of course that your rig can run it optimally. It is still used as a bench mark in some cases, afterall >_>;