It always sucks to see that. The only time it really “feels” like it makes sense is when you know your friend has been a way higher rank, had a bad game, while you’re basically close to your highest rank achieved and had a great game.
Example being
Season 3 you were D5, your buddy onyx 1650
It is now season 4 and you and your buddy finally have a chance to play. You’ve been floating the win losses hovering D3 to D4, your buddy hasnt played much with you this season and hasn’t had a lot of games played yet, but although hasn’t, still placed mid daimond and already close to your rank.
Like without getting into crazy specifics of how anything in the background works, without trying to super detail it out and throw in math and a bunch of acronyms…at face value…this is the only way to a player that it makes sense. This is all under the assumption you know the other player as well, cause if you don’t well it just causes more frustration because all you see is 2 D4s where 1 had a better game and lost more than the one who played worse.
Maybe they have the rank system like this so people will be more likely to create new accounts…then 343 can tell MS…”look at all the new accounts being created”!
It’s honestly ridiculous that it would be easier for me to raise rank on a new account than on my established account…absolutely ridiculous. This makes zero sense, especially on a free to play game….so stupid.