So after reading this entire thread, this is the basic outline on how to get 50 or whatever you are trying to achieve by playing. 1.) Spend less time trying to get better at the game of Halo 3 itself. 2.) Spend more time trying to get better at ranking up in Halo 3. As team captain of my MLG team, teamwork itself should obviously be very important to me. After reading topic post itself I was very well aware of how the ranking system works and I honestly think that it is a very clever system in itself. The question I have can't really be answered by this explanation, but only by a bungie employee which has a very small chance of ever happening. Why did Bungie choose this system over the system in Halo 2? After being introduced to the wonderful world of MLG customs, I quit really caring about my trueskill and more about my team and our ability to better ourselves. Some things though, have the magical ability to sit in the back of your mind. My main account is a 47 in TS, 45 in DT, 45 in Snipes, 40 in swat, and 42 in MLG. So all together those level out pretty evenly. I'm fine with being a 47 or a 24 or whatever level I am but just to kinda sum this up here is the question certainly more people other than myself ask. Why are there so many "bad" 50's? I guess alot of it can boil down to people spending the money to purchase a 50 or also just so happening to get to that level and just letting is sit while the mingle off to another playlist. I mean I've played against people in the playlist that they are actually 50 in, and won on numberous occasions. Yet they are the ones sitting ontop of the glorious mountain of rankes while I'll await eagerly in line hoping to take one step in then diving back into a cool pool of wonderful customs. Math equations are pretty easy to understand, but a ranking system that doesn't seem to go along with it. Not so much. Also anyone looking for customs, my account is Teh Vexedvirus and my team is always looking for more challenges.