Craig Cleaver

I can see why they have implemented the ranking structure, but MS also created the achievements to keep people playing for longer.

Who wants to keep on playing just to get an impossible (GRAW) or not very fun achievement. Those who cheat at the game cheat because they can, trying to stop this spoils it for everyone else who doesn't want to play a game they enjoy with 3 others in the team who don't speak the same language or are complete idiots.

If the industry wants to make it a level playing field - why don't they release games in the USA and UK at the same time.

They won't and don't, so there catering yet again for some people and not thinking about the bigger picture.