The system as I started saying, is really really good, + the time that Gamer spends to make the experience possible and the support he gives for our games is just amazing. I am sure I speak for all when stating this.
Speaking again just for me (my 2 cents as you say…):
I like what Bold proposed as enhancement: having to accept a minimum of games from your Tier players and 1 below. In the league my friends and I created, everyone plays 2 rounds (Axis/Allies) with everyone and no one can refuse a game (like a soccer or other sports leagues), this is difficult to implement on a league with many players like this, but something can be done.
I am Elite now, but players I played/are playing are not weak at all Bold, in fact Karl is a robust Tier 2 and now ranked 4, and I think at least 4 of them have chances to be Tier 1´s at the end.
Perhaps I would satisfy the new requirement + the issue with the enhancement proposed that way Bold, is that the control of it may be difficult as Tiers may move in the very last moment.
Another possible option to avoid the strategy I am following and sharing with you all, is simply penalizing your Points earned with 1 point, each time a player refuses a game with a player of the same Tier and Gamer is informed (in example if when Bold or Gamer reach E, I am still E, and if I refuse the game with them at that time). What I don´t like in relation to this idea, is that Gamer cannot implement it in the automatic formulas so means extra work for him.
Regarding the beginners, last year I proposed 3,5 for the win vs Tier 4,s to avoid Tier 1 being lost by a win and facilitating those games to happen, but I understand the point of Elites, and proposing 4,5 for a win vs Tier 4,s is just too much, so barriers will exist and they are not bad understanding the philosophy of this system, it is the role of people that joined a few months before and are ranked 3/4 to teach beginners as I did last year with a lot of them and Roboto, Karl and others did with me + you will need practice to reach playing the strongest, which is not bad at all as a system.
Regarding the number of games played, I still think an incentive for completing more is not opposed to the rest of the league rules and philosophy, may be + 0,1 in PPG each time you complete 10 games? Just another idea for discussion. It seems simple to implement in the automatic formulas. That makes a mid Tier 2 with >50 games to reach lower Tier 1 barrier, in example.
Juan