@voodoo I understand that b.os are a big part of the game, especially once you get to the top tier where it starts to matter a lot. It also gives a lot of different style of games because you get maps like the ditch, loki, where it's really satisfying to get it right and just get an advantage right off the bat via your superior opening. However it's also what drives away a lot of newbies since they think (incorrectly, but you can never get rid of the idea) that they need to have B.Os down to a science for every ranked map before they'll even touch it, which lowers the number of players who are willing to get into ranked.
If there was a way that made it where lower rated players just get map gen (i.e anyone below 1500 in 1 vs 1), while above that you start getting special maps, that would be pretty awesome IMO, because the higher skilled players get their special maps that they can have home field advantage on, while the lower rated players can relax (especially since B.Os really don't matter much below a certain rating anyway).
@waffelzNoob I agree as well, any early raids or aggression usually forces someone who's just rote learning a B.O to revert to their natural skill level, but most players are around the 700 rating skill level or something. So what is natural for any 1400+ player is basically impossible for these players already, they're too busy trying to sim city early on to do any raids, let alone do first bomber micro. Some of those players might be good enough to improve, and my idea is just to make the game seem less 'scary' to them, so they can play in ladder and hopefully improve and give the higher rated players more competition eventually.