Stay on point.

The MMR system and matchmaking are like weights around your neck, and I firmly believe are the source of growing frustrations with this game. It is factually rigged, and it is not healthy to improve in skill and have some hidden rating system hold you back. The MMR system 'decides' where you belong, then gives you more or less points on win/loss to try and push you towards that level. I can't imagine why anyone thinks this system works?

Obvious Example: With all this talk of e-sport and pro-play blah blah, does Riot, or any of you defending MMR system, value practice? If I spend a 100 matches in draft polishing my pathing, game, map awareness, etc, then lets say I put in 5 - 10 full hours in training mode(do you value your own training tool Riot? Do YOU believe in it?), I should, theoretically, have improved. So let's say I watched a bunch of pro videos, took all their advice, did all this practice, I am now a better player...

The MMR system will not take this into account, and will try to hold you to 'current' skill level. 'But Minnow, if you have truly gained skill, you will win much more games now and rise!' Not so much. If you are DRAMATICALLY better then everyone else in games, you will rise like a pro, but they are OUTLIERS, not typical cases. I'm talking about modest skill gains here, exactly the kind average players should be working for, and should be encouraged to chase after. If you make a modest improvement, you are now ice skating uphill against hidden MMR. Especially if this thing about winning series of matches and then being paired with weaker players in attempt to get 50/50 win rate is true(I don't know if it is but if really feels like it), this is a frustrating process.

Further, what exactly is the point of having a rank system with iron, bronze, silver, etc, if it's not even accurate? LoL client telling me I'm 'Silver IV,' but supposedly my MMR is Bronze 1 on website. What exactly is point of both? So if I'm in Silver IV, I'm not necessarily even matched against and with similar rank? Is there a wider window? It surely feels like there is a huge skill disparity in Silver, and I'm sure this is why, hidden system dragging people all over the place.

So now, lets say I've done all the out of game practice, improved a bit, start wining. Let's say I'm getting 16LP on win, and losing 17LP on loss, just one point. It's just one point, but because the brackets start and end at 0/100 points, you will almost always have to win an extra game to account for a loss, because of that one point down you are getting to 100. It would only be closer to a statistical debuff if it carried throughout the ranks. It doesn't.

Finally, if the MMR system was even near accurate, why would people end up with vastly different MMRs in ranked and in draft? I have 869 MMR ranked solo, but 1,233 MMR normal draft? I haven't played but two draft games in a while, so apparently playing ranked has made me drop in skill 33%??? I have no doubt playing ranked consistently has improved my game, weird how system says opposite.

The MMR system is redundant, shrouded in mystery, and plain frustrating for much of the player base. It would be nice to gasp just be matched with other people in your rank, so you can all fight each other for the next rank essentially. This is so simple I don't know why I would have to justify it. 15LP on all wins and losses either way. Makes sure you can't get into ranked without finishing at least a hundred draft games first just to lengthen time it takes for smurf account to get in(they still will, but it will be more tedious process). (Edit: I also think each account should just automatically start in bronze.)

It would be nice if player skill determined rising in ranks instead of 'determination of player skill.' They aren't the same thing.

Edit: I guess especially the point I'm trying to make with this is: Flat LP Gain/Loss = Natural Selection Managed LP Gain/Loss = Managed Selection is this arguable?