(Sorry for the long post in advance...)
Interesting to read how you felt about it.
I've put about 18 hours into Squad now, and it's been a unique experience for me so far.
I started off with the game after some peer pressure from Quick, and promptly refunded it. Looking back, I was completely frustrated about getting owned constantly, and my biggest mistake was forgetting it was an Alpha (and quite a way off even Beta still), and also forgetting it wasn't call of battlefront black ops XII. I was approaching it from a "Oh I'll just run/sneak/crawl around and shoot an enemy when I see one, that won't be a problem". That was a mistake on my part, but I haven't really played a game like this before. I never got into ARMA really, and it's just been a completely new way of playing what I thought was a typical FPS. But it's really,
really not.
So, after a day I re-bought it, and I'm really glad I did. Yes, there are balancing issues at the moment, but that's purely because of where the Alpha is at the moment. I actually enjoy playing the underdog sides and seeing how we can do against the better equipped team. It's not always going to be like that of course once the next updates go live.
I join a couple of servers exclusively, as I know they are actively admined, and have excellent teamwork going on with good squad leaders.
The game, in my opinion is utterly crap if you are not in a squad at all, or are in a squad with no, or inadequate communication. And that's how it's
meant to be, which is what I like. It actually, in a way, forces teamplay, because if you don;t work with the squad it's just no fun, and that's a good thing. Finally someone is doing something like this again. My overriding feeling I get now when jumping into a familiar server with the same names playing is that of BF1942 in it's heyday. Jumping on a server where there are familiar names, but they are still strangers essentially. Then over time you get to know each others strengths and weaknesses, and build a squad around that.
A game where it's all about the objective, and not your k/d. For example, taking out an enemy F.O.B. drains them of 10 tickets instantly. Assuming you actually get an enemy combatant down, you still haven't drained them of a ticket, as if the squad that player was in is operating as it should, he'll be revived by a medic and you don't get anything. So, it's far more effective for the team as a whole to go for the objectives, surround them, flank enemy positions etc. rather than it just being a typical headbutting situation between two teams.
I love this side of Squad, and it's what keeps me coming back for more, even though I've rage quit on several occasions. Each time I do I look back and think what I could have done differently, and there is always something. Something I wasn't doing quite right that exposed me maybe, or an area I didn't cover. Gradually I have been getting better and better, learning all the time, and actually wanting to do this not because of kit unlocks, or XP, or any of that bs I'm so tired of. No, it's because it's fun to do so... and considering it's an alpha, that's bloody impressive.
This game has so much potential considering where it's at and where it wants to go. I'm really looking forward to it, and having a blast (literally) in the meantime
Anyone thinking about picking it up, I can assure you, as long as you get in a good server, with good people, which isn't hard really as long as you can get along with people and aren't afraid of using the mic, you are going to have a good time. Just keep returning to the same servers and you'll get recognized, and be joining in squads or leading them with the same people. There is no better feeling than when you are in a squad with a good squad leader and everyone pulling their weight in the squad.
I can honestly say it's the first time I've felt this since 1942, and that's high praise indeed.