So if you aren't down with Super Fiesta you get kicked to the curb. Okay. If that's the core population that's left, then something seriously went wrong with H5 and I'm sure we all know why, but I'm not gonna bother going into it.
I'd just like to point out that BTB was a solid middle of the pack 7 on the population playlist since the beginning of the year until the last list which was in July and I'm sure it would still be there if this SF playlist didn't happen so there is a player base that will play the original BTB. Sigh, no compromises and now I know where this road leads which is depressing. I guess it's back to MCC...
I support the compromise you mentioned as well as the ones I posted previously. Heck, add a (non-weighted) Heavies variant with access to a good variety of REQ variants to the BTB playlist while also adding some bigger maps to the regular SF playlist with REQ vehicles in order to diversify the tactical experience within it. While IMO it's not ideal to combine SF with regular BTB it’s certainly a million times better than seeing BTB become rotational.
Josh Menke’s argument on behalf of 343’s reason is quite short-sighted on this matter; in fact, in order to justify his/their position I’d recommend 343i provide permanent Super Fiesta playlists for:
FFA
Doubles
Arena
SWAT
Elimination
Quickplay
Infection
BTB
All at the same time while maintaining their normal lists so they can fairly gauge where the population chooses to diversify itself when faced with equal chooses across the board for more than a month or two. If all SF playlists steal 2/3rd of the pop from its regular counterpart while bringing new and old players back to the title then I suppose he’s got a point when he says H5 has one true core mode (SF) and perhaps the unthinkable should occur, but until then 343 has simply setup the environment to further undermine the retention of BTB before incredibly calling for its removal as a permanent option.
Oh, and statements from Josh like FFA & Arena have official tournament reasons for why they’ve been the exception to their short-sighted pop rules won’t hold up after the final H5 tournament. Also, in the case of Elimination he says there's specific commendations for why it's an exception which is odd because BTB is the only location to achieve commendations for the Assault mode yet that's conveniently being ignored or at least not acknowledged.
For me, personally, MCC is not the experience I’m looking for. I’d say anymore, but perhaps it’s more of an - at least until further adjustments are made related to control settings/options. I very much enjoy H5, but I guess this kind of decision will simply have me playing more CoD: MWR, CoD: WWII, and perhaps Destiny 2, Battlefield 1, plus Titanfall 2 until H5's Anniversary Throwback returns on rotation... if I’m paying attention. Sad times indeed... starting to really dislike 343’s thought process on H5 playlist management.
Maybe H5 needs a match composer?