I'd say we are in a very similar situation. I was born in 88 and have gone through nearly every console. I also did Dev work for the Oculus Rift pre-facebook buyout.  I'm nearly div1 as well and haven't put any $$$ into the game yet.

I have massive problems with the p2w setup, but I also think it is wildly exaggerated in this game. I will probably write a post soon about the legal issues in Australia surrounding the way in which items go on 'sale' without a viable option to purchase the items at RRP.

P2W mechanics are unbalanced if the situation allows it. In this case though, it's harder to argue... There is absolutely a gap in skill and firepower with some players, that's understandable for early entrants trying to get the competitive edge. However nearly everything has a counter set and the maps are usually build to provide viable options for a counter. This fails with having no communication with your team. If the team is filled with bots, they just feed kills and there is no way around that besides using them as canon fodder while you flank.

As far as I'm concerned if someone want to try and charge me with twin carbines, Ares and it's microwave arms would stop most things dead in their tracks. A good set of long arms would also work for keeping distance, as would rockets. Javs are generally a good counter for anything that shoots in a straight line.

Mechs all have counters too. I personally think Killshot needs a nerf with its AOE damage and ability to negate stasis fences but that's a different issue entirely.

I think the P2W argument has some valid points, but it isn't an argument without its own problems. The game isn't meant to be 1v1 which is where the team dynamic comes in. I still haven't gone against a Brickhouse but I can assume if it is being hit with heat/stasis and then something lights it up with arc damage, it wouldn't last very long.

Now the events where you have to spend a-coins to complete missions worth less than the value spent... Those are some terrible design choices that benefit no one.

Your division rank has nothing to do with bot skill level. Higher division ranks only influence your Victory and Combat Points which in turn allow you to acquire crates faster.  You want to be in and stay in Division 1 becuase you will acquire more crates which give you more credits, blue-prints, and a-coins.

i just truely hate it when end game items are sold for irl money especially if they are something you should earn because they are better. i've spent a lil bit but not much and yea if a brickhouse is being focused it won't last but for me this is assuming you have actual teammates and not bots. i dunno really not easy to differentiate betwen a bot and player because both can be equally useless

lol the crates i get most of are the white ones that give piddly amounts and issue with bots is in this game they are so useless except being cannon fodder and a coins from regular crates are rare and in super small amount so i very much don't count that as anything. bots shouldn't be needed to fill games but it's clear they are and the reason is far from good