I still believe that we can do a fairly balanced, competitive tournament with the tiered randomized set-up. And you better believe that I'm gonna be competitive about this.
Believe me, I'd love to be teamed up with maitreya more than anyone else, but organizing predetermined teams is hell because of RR's history of erratic attendance. And besides, all the formats were voted for by the majority.
We, as participants, just have to adjust to the rules of the tournament. Self-centric one-dimensional designs (and tactics) won't work this time around. You have to bring a design that will be able to hold its own even if (1)you're being focus-fired, (2)your partner doesn't complement you too well, (3)you end up in a 1-on-1 situation, (4)you end up in a 1-on-2 situation because your partner died early. And the AC too has to be complementary to whatever you think your potential partner will bring. So yeah, designs now will have to be more thought-out than usual. But that's what it takes to win, right?
The metagame is simply different for a 1-on-1, a predetermined 2-on-2, or a randomized 2-on-2.
----------------------
Oh, and Clone really nailed a lot of my sentiments about a 2-on-2.
Rick's scenarios will happen too, but I think Clone's scenarios will be happening more often. 
Believe me, I'd love to be teamed up with maitreya more than anyone else, but organizing predetermined teams is hell because of RR's history of erratic attendance. And besides, all the formats were voted for by the majority.
We, as participants, just have to adjust to the rules of the tournament. Self-centric one-dimensional designs (and tactics) won't work this time around. You have to bring a design that will be able to hold its own even if (1)you're being focus-fired, (2)your partner doesn't complement you too well, (3)you end up in a 1-on-1 situation, (4)you end up in a 1-on-2 situation because your partner died early. And the AC too has to be complementary to whatever you think your potential partner will bring. So yeah, designs now will have to be more thought-out than usual. But that's what it takes to win, right?
The metagame is simply different for a 1-on-1, a predetermined 2-on-2, or a randomized 2-on-2.
----------------------
Oh, and Clone really nailed a lot of my sentiments about a 2-on-2.
Rick's scenarios will happen too, but I think Clone's scenarios will be happening more often.
