Constructively, the main issue with the game is counter-gear being locked behind too high levels

Essentially TL;DR: The game needs to be rebalanced in how late you unlock key gear for countering playstyles that you will encounter frequently even from level 1.

I play with a bunch of friends who are all casual or semi-casual gamers. We are all in agreement that the single biggest issue is being stomped by people using gear, vehicles etc. which we literally have not unlocked a way to counter.

Like its fair that higher levels get an advantage. We can live with going up against SVDs with our trusty SKS. We could live with having an anti-vehicle weapon with, say, only a single use, with higher levels getting more. But it really doesn't make for a satisfying gameplay loop, when we routinely encounter players against whom we literally have no available counter.

Armor is a good example. Nothing is as infuriating as losing a gunfight simply because you do not have the ammo available to counter. Its unlocked at like lvl 63-ish right? People being able to absorb several headshots , with us being onetapped even to the chest. We're at 30 hours and about lvl 50. . We should not have to play for 40+ hours before we are able to counter something literally half the player base is using.

An even better example is vehicles. You cannot shoot through the glass of most of them. You cant destroy any of them until you unlock the RPG at support lvl 5. And even then you really only stand a chance against the most basic ones. At our 30 hours we still haven't unlocked a single thing to reliably counter Humvees or any vehicle above that. At the same time, such a vehicle basically only costs about as much as our loadout.

And dont even get me started on attack choppers. We're basically reduced to running around like scared children for cover whenever they approach, and hope a teammate is high enough lvl to do something, or wait for them to go away.

Every game will have the sweaty players grinding ahead from day one, and we're ok with that. However, with every counter being locked behind high levels, the gameplay loop becomes incredibly unsatisfying for casual players for the first many levels. And most will not have the patience to sit around with a spotter scope, or skulk around in the back trying to get actual useful loot off of dead bodies, for the first 30-40+ hours.

Most other issues we can live with, but this particular one is causing us to leave the game behind must faster than we otherwise would. I'm getting a feeling this applies to many other casuals as well, and it is in everyone's best interest for the game to have a healthy casual playerbase for as long as possible.

Edit : I really do not mean the above as just incessant hate on the game. Whether you agree with my point or not, the fact is it is a factor experienced by many (or even most?) casual players. The fact of the matter just is that the gameplay loop is not very rewarding at low levels. At the end of the day, if the gameplay loop is not rewarding, people will stop playing, meaning the game is pushing away casual or low level players.

And games generally thrive when they have a healthy population of casual, semi-casual, and veteran players. Meaning it would be in everyones best interest to tune this element.