[Rioter Outreach] Quick personal Ranked interview for Riot Employees :)

So, after some personal brooding and several days away from League (and the list of discussions I've read about how "bad" the ranking system is right now), I went back and mini-interviewed friends I play with about their current ranked games, which rank they found themselves in, how their matches looked. This is a friendly, curiosity post aimed at the Rioters. I may compile answers into a blog post for my website that gets visits only from bots. ;)

Questions: Are you waiting to start provisionals or did you start immediately? Why? Did you play pre-season ranked? How are the Rioters fairing in the S5 ranked season? What type of players were you matched with in your provisionals? (AKA, widely diverse skill range? People you usually play with? Ready to report whole team for "Unskilled Player"?) Were you disappointed or happy with your placement after provisionals? How far (above or below) your S4 rank did you find yourself? Do you believe in Elo Hell? What are your thoughts/comments to those who feel like they are stuck in it (or placed back into something they already escaped once)? What one piece of advice would you give to the ranked community this season?