Also, the large drops in rating are mainly due to games played in the first ~20-30 games where the rating system is trying to develop a baseline rating. It sounds harsh, yes, but we aren't going to bend a perfectly functional system just because some players aren't as good as they thought they were.
As for listening to player's feedback, we've been trying to do that. We haven't rushed in and made any hasty changes for that exact reason. Also, something to be aware of: ideas get scrutiny because bad ideas don't hold up to scrutiny. No, that doesn't intrinsically mean that changing the rating system is a bad idea, it just means that you need a stronger supporting argument than "my ego".
Maybe there is/was nothing wrong with pools and they would take off in their own time; that's not entirely false, the 5+0 pool has been in consistent use since it's creation. And maybe the changes that a lot of people want to see will drive away a happy user-base.
As for listening to player's feedback, we've been trying to do that. We haven't rushed in and made any hasty changes for that exact reason. Also, something to be aware of: ideas get scrutiny because bad ideas don't hold up to scrutiny. No, that doesn't intrinsically mean that changing the rating system is a bad idea, it just means that you need a stronger supporting argument than "my ego".
Maybe there is/was nothing wrong with pools and they would take off in their own time; that's not entirely false, the 5+0 pool has been in consistent use since it's creation. And maybe the changes that a lot of people want to see will drive away a happy user-base.