SBMM should reduce outliers, which should reduce the frequency of lopsided teams and predetermined matches. I agree that strict SBMM can be tough on outliers. Ideally, the parameters should expand without someone having to wait a crazy amount of time. (Personally, I would rather wait longer and have stricter matchmaking, but I understand not everyone would be happy with that.) I can also understand that top level players earned the right to dominate matches and SBMM removes that. I disagree that SBMM players can’t see progression. It’s not as obvious as in CBMM, but it’s still noticeable due to still matching players above and below your skill level. Ranks can also be a way to show progression.

Speaking from experience, Yes, SBMM does effect how you perceive your skill growth. I remember the 1st time they tried it in quick play. I've always been above average and would do decent in pvp, but once they added sbmm, I went from constantly being in the top 3 to the bottom 3, just because I was good enough to get out of the "average" pool but not quite ready for the "expert" pool. I practiced and practiced and got better, but it still always felt like I was playing like dog poop. It wasn't until bungie removed sbmm and enabled cbmm, that I got to see the fruits of my labor.

I agree CBMM shows progress more clearly in performance. I disagree that you never see progress in SBMM. It depends on player population and how loose the SBMM is. IME, Destiny’s SBMM has always been loose. I often see a wide range of skill and when you play a lot, you can tell if players are low/average/high skill and assess how well you’re performing against them. If I’m up against high skill players, I’m not going to judge my performance in the same way as if I’m playing low/average skill players.

Previous the sbmm range was roughly +/- 0.2 kda. Then it would expand outward if it couldn't find enough players. So if you were a 1.0, you could get paired with anyone between 0.8 and 1.2. There is a world of difference between a .8 and a 1.2. As for me I went from a 1.36 to 1.5 kda. Durning that time, and like I said it was tough to see my growth because I was almost always going against better players since once you start getting into the about average range, you get players who never miss a sniper shot or can pull off crazy moment combos. I'd also like to mention that in the early days of SBMM, since i was on the boarder between average an expert, it was common for me to get bounced back and forth between the 2 pools, which didn't really help me either. Also when sbmm separates the pools, it means that lower skilled players never get a chance to see upper level players play. I mean I was only able to advance because pre sbmm, I had played games against high skilled players and from that experience I learned thinks like how to counter, slide gunners, bumper jumpers, and no miss snipers. So while it's harsh, it's often good for lower skilled players to be paired against these players just so they can see different playstyles/habits and learn either how to use them or learn how to counter them.