I think it's because those "better average" guys don't have the ability to look at it in a bigger picture. Better average won't be any good long therm for anyone.
i could do with enlightening, as could all the people that quit because they did not have the peds to weather the ups and downs the way people like i can, and i presume you can.
it was the main complaint on the forum, and its what one sees if one searches the internet for references to this game, if people want mass market appeal then surely its the mass market which has to find the game affordable?
I agree with minim, a better average loot will ultimately 'decay' the playerbase rather than increase it.
The maths of the game are clear, they follow the entropic principle and the house always wins.
An indiviual player can win but only in two ways:
a) Hit a big HoF
b) Sell at a high enough markup
If you increase average loot, and we assume MA still take the same cut, then we must by definition reduce the possibility of a), there are many players who have stayed around a long time purely because of hitting that one big loot.
I also believe that more average loot would inevitable hurt markup.
Markup depends ultimately on Player A being willing to pay Player B for the privilege of owning/using his item (ie has no direct relationship with MA). Why would I pay you 150 PED for 100 PED item if I know we are both likely to get the same loot regardless of gear? Fact is, I wouldn't.
As someone who has recently returned after a long break, I am feeling that an increased level of 'fairness' in the game in in danger of killing it off completely. You need big HoFs, you need lucky bastards who own crazy gear that us mere mortals can only dream of having, as in real life you need to feed peoples desire to compete and progress and reap the greater rewards.
Better average loot does none of those things, its EU Socialism in disguise, and its as bankrupt an idea in here as everywhere else.
there where still big hofs under the more balanced loot system too, just not lots of 1K plus loots every day, of course there has to be something to play for and it is true average markup might suffer a bit (if there is any left to suffer that is) but in the end those ubers you speak of need players beneath them or else what is the point of being uber? basing the game solely on the wishes of a few higher end players will get you nowhere either, it only takes a few to quit to cause serious damage to the system.
so i agree with you that one needs lucky bastards (like me) who own crazy gear (not like me) for us mere mortals to dream of, but there has to be some balance where the game grows and new players wish to stay to grow into the ubers of the future.
i dont see what you mean with your comment about socialism either, the system is capitalist to the core, but that does not mean that a more balanced system is not healthier, and without wanting to stray into RL discussions too much, just look at the real world for your example of what unchecked vampire capitalism does, and has done to the economy of this game for that matter, so be careful what you wish for because the worlds economy looks pretty bankrupt as it is?
to put it simply, it has nothing to do with socialism or with the chance to hof big sometimes, the fact is that your regular gamer is not prepared to spend limitless amounts if they constantly get 70% back, this is something they have been loud and clear about, and if MA, and you, want this game to grow then something has to give, and that something is this average return.