Until they get to a point where you can unlock a super weapon or super armor that I can't access without paying for it, I don't buy it. I'd say I'm a well above average MP FPS player and I've yet to see anyone (in Battlefield 3 or 4 at least) be able to buy something that made me think I couldn't beat them or that I was getting killed because of that. The ONLY time I've seen that was when Xfactor (pro gamer: https://www.youtube.com/user/rivaLxfactor/videos) popped into our game. He's so freaking quick that the minute I saw him and thought "Oh **** Xfactor!" he killed me. :lol I remember seeing people who were clearly not that great and they would go buy battlepacks and have a weapon unlock their rank wouldn't have gotten them, and they were still not great.
What don't you buy? That the player with additional gear has an advantage over the player who doesn't?
Yeah because, again using Battlefield as an example, I never saw any piece of gear that gave anyone an advantage over me. If they could unlock something like armor that was twice as effective, then yes that would be pay for play. Until they have the ability to unlock something like that, or a better gun than anything you can normally get, I'm not too worried.
Ok, so two things.
1. You're kind of putting the rabbit in the hat with only your experiences. You sound like a pretty skilled gamer. In many cases, I would expect that you are going toe to toe with other gamers less skilled than you. Thus, the advantage would be canceled out by your own skill level. BUT, that doesn't mean the advantage doesn't exist in the first place.
2. You have to think of it from two different perspectives. First, the scenario of two equally skilled gamers, and second the scenario of a less skilled gamer going up against a guy who is more skilled with more toys. In either circumstance, the advantage becomes far more pronounced and objectionable.
Here's the thing. In practice, having access to a wider range of gear means that the player can tailor their loadout to the gameplay style they prefer. Just by way of example, some players prefer high-damage, lower ROF weapons, while others prefer lower damage, higher ROF weapons. If you have access to both, you're more likely to do better in the game. If you're stuck with the one you don't like, you won't perform as well. And this says nothing of the various cards that give ACTUAL advantages to people.
In Battlefield 3, one of the early unlocks for planes was -- I kid you not -- countermeasures. Until you got something like 500 points in a plane (which was basically 3-5 kills), you couldn't even pop chaff or flares if someone shot a missile at you. That gave a huge advantage to someone who had already unlocked it. Was it an insurmountable advantage? No, but it was an advantage nonetheless.
Now, at the end of the day, because most of the unlock systems have zero to do with actual skill, everyone will likely unlock everything over time. So, in the long run, the game will level out. But while everyone is going through the process, it creates advantages and disadvantages for players that I find...distasteful for a number of reasons.
Yeah I'm just talking about my experience. Also even if I could have bought a fully unlocked jet loadout at the beginning, it wouldn't stop me from hitting every tree that jumped out in front of me. :lol I had total air superiority when there were even more horrible pilots on there. I usually left the jets unless no one was spawning in them at all. I could fly the helicopter, but there were still way better pilots/gunners so I usually left those.
I was able to bomb a tank once. Then I got shot down :lol I just looked and I had like 1000 hours of Battlefield 3. That was like 3 hours a night for a year or two I think. So that was literally one tank in that time.
Yeah I would rather unlocks be tied to rank and unlocks be fancy cosmetic stuff. Of course I remember Mountain Dew or some drink had special codes for dog tags and then people in BF3 cried because they couldn't get them (which they could if they had bought some...) so people complain about everything.
Sooner if you preordered, and sooner than that if you have EA Access.
At this point, I honestly just don't give a damn whether they do p2w or grind2win like usual. It's irrelevant. I'll spend money and/or time, and I'll get there. I just want to enjoy the game. I wish these games would ditch the stupid progression systems, but they won't, so fine, open up P2W and let those of us with wives, jobs, and kids have a chance at a level playing field if we choose to spend our cash on it.