Unless the game is given a complete overall, no matter much gameplay wise it's made like Call of Duty, Battlefield, Modern Warfare, Killzone or pick your own modern FPS equivalent. The MMO, RPG leveling/grinding elements of Dust are still going to be a major turn-off to most of the core-base for those sort of games. In that respect CCP, in my opinion, is better off trying to harsh out a place in the middle of the FPS and RPG/MMO markets, rather then trying to fit directly into either. Competeing head-to-head with other, well known FPS titles would be a no-win situation, similarly for RPGs. However there is a market with playes who like both. That's what I believe Dust in aiming for.

I'm not saying there aren't flaws in the gameplay, and admittedly I didn't play during either closed or open beta. I'm just stating I see a reason why CCP wouldn't want to walk the same gameplay style path as other first person shooters.

When I look at the gameplay of Dust, I always remember how this game is geared heavily toward teamwork and not multiple instances of player vs player combat occurring randomly across the battlefield. Holding down one position, using the combined efforts of a squad and your other teammates rather then roaming solo, from place to place, looking for the next kill is most often, though not always, the better approach to combat.