EvE was never like that the Aurum items were cosmetic only (last I played) and gave no discernible edge in any area. Could you imagine the backlash of having to train all that time for a T2 ship then they go a head and produce an Aurum model that can be used with T1 SP but comparable to the T2 variant?

Why then in Dust did they make the Aurum items so vital to play? Is it to give newer people without the SP to use the higher meta level with ISK but to get it one step sooner with Aurum? But then the Aurum items are simply devastating with those who have higher skills which would tip the balance out of favor of the new people. Unless you put in an SP cap at which point you can no longer use Aur items when the next higher tier of those with ISK can be used.

What drew me to Dust was its connections to EvE, but that won't be enough to hold me here if there is not more content added soon. Along with a more even playing field when there is a lot that could be done to improve game play. It has been the same small maps, same broken content for weeks. How much more can be tested beyond the stress test for the servers?

It should be a way for new players to be able to compete with more experienced players on a more even footing without getting ruthlessly stomped. Or they can suck it up and play with what they got. Something needs to be done about it though or Dust won't have a player base that will compete with the last of this generations shooters or into the next gen systems.

If nothing new happens to Dust and once Defiance comes out in a few weeks I am out. Not even its connection to EvE will keep me around. And when it does launch I don't really see a reason to come back to it.

Yes but they continue to get outclassed by those with higher SP anyway. Part of this game whether people want to acknowledge it or not, comes down to gear. EvE is no different. A well fitted T1 Frigate can more than take out a Cruiser. A group of well fitted and coordinated frigates can take out a battleship. What if they don't buy the Mercenary pack and get the free aurum? The tutorial is dreadful in what it explains and how the game works. How SP really effects what can and can't be used.

So you have a tier 3 weapon that you're using at tier 2 because of aurum and then you come across a player or a squad in proto gear and it doesn't matter anyway.

When there are so many other games out there that don't require that and that puts you on an even footing right at the start of every match why play a game where you are negatively handicapped for being new or not putting real money into it? What appeal does Dust have to draw in new players?

They can do what ALL MMOs do and match players based on progress, make game modes that restrict the type/level of gear used. This forces people to play with others that have advanced as far as you have. Ofcourse you will only be able to squad with friends of the same level. WOW does this, FFXIV, FFXI, SWTOR. If you play shooters all your life its hard to see the obvious solution.

Repeatedly yesterday in public matches, I kept being put on teams that would not squad or work together where half my team had 0 kills (with numerous deaths so not AFK) and hardly any WPs at end of match. Therefore, almost every match I fought yesterday was my squad of 3 versus 16. I asked myself if I was a player in that situation with 0 kills, multiple deaths, and hardly any war points, "Why keep playing?". I have yet to find a plausible answer. Any ideas what could be going through these players minds?