I have to recruit the likes of Ottermack or Zero to have even a chance at loot.

Depends on the loot you want. Elemental primaries? Yes. Armor? No. Just use strategic buffs.

I think it is the only stuff in the game you actually EARN though, through skill and effort. So that is nice.

I agree with the thesis of the article, although not all the specific points. What I really love about ToO is that there is no mistaking you are playing other real humans. Since voice chat has been mostly abolished from online console gaming, it's sometimes hard to get away from the feeling you are just playing with and against a bunch of really good bots. The strategic adjustments and team cohesiveness required from round to round in Trials makes it obvious that isn't the case.

I'd be happy to try a run with you sometime. However, like the man said, it can take a while to figure out a role you can play on a team. None of my 3 Lighthouse runs where on the first try, and the runs leading up to them were often pretty ugly. But once you get rolling, it's the best feeling.

Only just read the article and a lot of it rings true. Sadly that includes the negative points.

Teabagging in particular always surprises (then infuriates me). I almost never see it in general PvP and everyone I've ever spoken to has been incredibly friendly. It always really antagonises me when a team teabags me - Which I guess means it's working as intended (except when it makes me angry enough to get 3 consecutive Wrecking Balls with my Party Crasher). Teabagging in my mind takes it from the "We beat you, yay" of dancing (which is still annoying, but less upsetting) right into "You suck, screw you" - I hate bad sportsmanship.

I've also had trouble with the "gym class" issue. My regular group is made up of 4 people, so no matter what one person is left out. Both myself and Charlie also have our own groups (I have you DBO folks and Charlie plays with some of our American clanmates) which usually means two people on the sidelines. Even worse, some of us are -as always happens- just better than others. I've been on both sides - I've been left out while people go to the lighthouse numerous times, and I've had to make the uncomfortable decision to leave someone behind too. They're both pretty horrible, and it's actually put quite a strain on my little group. It's just a game, so we all know it's silly, but nonody likes to be left out/feel they're not good enough.

That all said, doing well is a blast, and the gametype itself is great fun. It just comes with some downsides.