I've been using leaf suit ghillies since 2004 and made the very first Chinese leaf suit ghillie. So I was using what is seen everywhere now, long ago.
Back then it gave massive advantage to our group as we were playing a different games type to everyone else and no one was used to looking for well crafted ghillies. You went unnoticed more often.
Things have changed, just as my group said they would if our suits became mainstream. We said , it would change the game.
You see we had already changed the game and all players used these light mesh leaf suits and played total Stealth game. Our game, called hunteering had evolved from our hard-core airsoft club that had run since 1991 and all our events were based around Stealth and fieldcraft.
We developed better suits than traditional heavy designs and made a game where every player used a bolt action and Pistol and handfull of ammo that lasted several days, by yourself. It was the pinnacle of what we love the most .... the stalk ..... being hunted .. navigation ..... hard routine and total immersion in nature.
Anyway, we said it would change skirmish/airsoft if aspects of our game and equipment became mainstream.
However I agree that ghillies should be limited to only bolt action snipers, in the interest of gameplay. Why? For the reasons you give at the top.
Bolt action is the most disadvantaged airsoft gun on the field ..... long MED ...no follow up shot.. small mags ...... expensive ..... most technical to setup well....... have to be stationary to stand a chance of hitting someone..... that's why we play with them. They provide the hardest challenge. My group don't do DMRs as we kind of see them as too high a rate of fire to provide the same experience ... you can walk fore onto targets etc lay down rounds while moving .... big mags .... hi semi auto rof..... etc etc
I guess we see it as cheating tbh lol
So make a bolty player more specialised as a Sniper by allowing him a full ghillie.
Maybe DMR can use a jacket only?
AEG player can have a ghillie hat only?
But that is if you want a balanced game .. which skirmish isn't.... its a pay to win environment due to lack of limits around equipment and ammo.
As is, there is no penalty for putting down 100 rounds at someone in 3 seconds. It's a fraction of a mag.
Our own game identifies all the limitations that we could use to create a better, more balanced/skillful environment. That is what our "underground sport" is about ...... getting what we want from the time/money invested in the activity.
As is, airsofters are moving towards hose pipes you can quickly walk into target without even needing sights and liberally hose that area down till one bb hits.
Personally I want more from my game than that.
Airsoft is essentially hide and seek ... and tag.
You can't blame people for finally realising that hiding is how you win. However, as you say would you rather skirmish is about hide and seek or more about tag?
