Recoveries break this idea of matchmaking and to some extent carries do, too, just not to the same degree. It's clear that in order to increase the population, they need to make the gear more attainable and if the population is higher, matchmaking algorithms work so much better. But, trying to match pure skill without a separate ranking system and recovery policing, becomes a pretty difficult challenge. I think the best thing they could do is make flawless gear super cool and cosmetic. Worth earning for prestige reasons. But, just playing the game mode will also earn you some good loot. Also, stop taking tokens away from week-to-week. Just cap them and let people amass as many as they choose to and turn them in when the featured loot is appealing. I know that if it were that way, I'd go into Trials more and if wins weren't the only reason to play and I could still get good loot just by being in there, I would play more. It's just not a fun game mode for people who aren't super sweaty and Stasis has made it even less fun.