After my 2.5 years of observation and calculations I'm sure it's based on ECO and it makes sense. I look at it from other side, you do more damage for 1 ped spend when you are more eco. Means it costs you less to get same loot as you would get with noneco weapon. And yes I think players are bound to lose all the time when using old school non sib weapons with low skills or hunting unamped on taxed lands. I would go further in my theory and I would say regen mobs are uneco, because system (in my opinion) is not tracking the regen of mob. I've always had bad longterm returns on regen mobs than on normal ones.
It's really simple, think about your playing, do hunting logs of at least hundreds runs, compare results and try to get better.
After my 5.5 years of observation (plus scientific tests i made), i claim that the loot is based on what you spend. Many tests hint that this is true, and a 90%-95% return rate based on PEDs spent is confirmed in many, many threads here on this forum.
ECO can help to lower your costs (especially on (L) stuff where you pay more than TT only), but it doesn't have any effect on TT return rate.
Don't you think that would be a very simplistic model if the loot was based on PEDs spent? Why even buying anything with markup, just buy regular Opalo and hunt anything as you will get 90% back. Why even bothering with skills, maxed weapons, (L) markups and so on?...
Check the Artrat's thread there:
https://www.planetcalypsoforum.com/...5511-Crystal-Palace-vs-Swamp-Camp-Hunting-Log
Why do you think he gets 60% return hunting with unmaxed weapon on a taxed land?
This is ONE test, and i had a lot of different results, shitty return on untaxed land, fat profit on taxed.
Last night i had a mining run on untaxed land, with a maxed 105 finder - < 50% TT return - shit like that happens.
Try to find the numerous other tests, posted here on PCF.
And yes, it IS a very simple model, but it is the only model that explains why EU is not rated gambling (plus marcos statement that "there is no luck involved").
The point in more skills (hunting) skills?
You can hunt bigger mobs, that regularly drop stuff with a markup, have less FAP/armour decay (that's an important factor if you use i.e. FAPs that come at 145%, or high end (L) armour...)
Oh, and of course you can show them off!