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[Sporklift]

For the readers and game history buffs.

Spoiler

Trial Mechs, or rather stock TT configurations of Mechs, have been considered a punishment since they were implemented with R&R with CB. Back in those days they only made half the C-bills and generated no XP in exchange for not needing to be repaired or reloaded. Their purpose was to allow a new player to make enough C-bills to get a customizable machine or to allow an unlucky player to build up C-bills to repair or buy a new mech' without risking a loss.

With all the tuner mechs running around, it was/is regarded as a bad new user experience. But it was free, so naturally it was up to certain people to abuse the crap out of it. So we got the suicide/disconnect farmers, jumping into a game, jumping out, and jumping to the next trial chassis for hours on end (rather than actually playing). They were basically handicapping teams (it was hard to root them out because the game was so unstable anyway) and contributing to what was already a frustrating experience for the people trying to play the game as it was intended.
So we come to today, now we have no R&R. Farmers still farm, but are insulated somewhat by Elo (I haven't seen any blatant ones lately), and trial Mechs are still a trial.

The heart of the matter.

People don't like using them, people hate seeing multiple trials on their teams, it is basically a brand that says 'I have no idea what I'm doing' or 'I am meta fodder' (debate the meta elsewhere!) It is bad for the guys who are forced to use them against all the people who know what they are doing, have better things packed into their machines, and are better organized.

So its been proposed from day one that Trial Mechs get separate ques. I agree, but we go a bit farther than that. I say we also triple the number of Trial Mechs available (for variety), give them a basic set of game modes (or the lobby), and still let them gain C-bills and exp normally.
We keep them separate from the custom machines, bobbles, paint jobs, CW2&3, modules, and efficiencies. Then we call them something else.
What does this do? It provides a place where the new guys can play without getting worked by custom designs. It gives the experienced players a break from the meta (Videos of 8vs8 stock matches look rather fun). The possibility of instant destruction is far less and the games are longer and more chaotic. It would be a different initial experience, possibly more positive than what we currently have as PGI 'struggles' to find a balance.

IWill people only play stock mechs only mode and ignore the more lucrative bits? Absolutely, but it gets people into the game and gives them a reason to stick around. Plus they'll have all these C-bills built up and will want to try to do something with them.