@mastermalone I think it may be less that the skill of the players have increased, and more that because the ranks reset, all the good players have to come down and fight through it all again. It also could be that after the first season the less skilled players may just be drifting away from the mode, and that by default would only leave the stronger players.
IDK. It is just a thought. There is a lot to say about this game's focus on making players better over all as well. All the tutorials, the better match making, and just the fact that we are 3 months in, all could be helping to up the skill level of the player base.