But I think it could please 3000 or 4000 averages players also...
How about, if there won't be any items from the game needed, not HP or skills, how about the prize would be sweat? Like 1 bottle per participation and 100-200 bottles for the first places? It could work.
Otherwise, if you want 50k-150k PED worth of items for first place, why would these items hold their value if they won't have any use in the events that you think would please 3000 or 4000 players?
I appreciate you are a new player and quite active, also GZ on your placement in your category, but, this is not your every day shooter game and it will never be. Why ask for it to become one?
The 100% skill event you want is already here and it's not very popular. And it's here because of "high" demand for 100% IRL skills type event.
Very few players compete because the lack of potential. Because the lack of skill to beat cambu who is a badass at it.
MA even made an event within the Batsim event, to stimulate players with PED, thee wasn't such a high demand for it that time either.
Defense instances and Solos in Merry Mayhem required more skill than FFA, Annihilation and many other past events but they also needed some equipment, because this is what this game is all about.
Work on it, work for it, with your time, with your head and your card too.
The game doesn't make these items cost that much - we, the players do. We put the value they have because of the edge they give in various events and situations and of course these should always matter, regardless how much the people that don't have them want to put them down. Price are constantly going down, interest is not high, if they become worthless, why would participation be interesting at all? People will not play events for sweat in this game dude.