Why is aim assist allowed in Ranked?

But wouldn't putting in the effort to "lift that boat" actually make it more competitive? If we're talking about PC servers and turning off AA doesn't even affect the leaderboards, then people shouldn't mind removing it at all. Hearing you say that makes it feel like removing AA for high ranks is a pretty solid move—what do you think about that?

Also, pros matching with beginners feels like a super rare edge case anyway. That’s just how ranked is, which is why casual modes exist, and I’m pretty sure the devs are trying to improve the matchmaking system. Between this and the whole debate about making ranked Solo-Q only, I honestly have no idea what either the players or the devs want this game to be anymore.

"a system that narrows the skill gap between beginners and high-level players doesn't make any sense for a competitive mode."

That might be true in a very loose sense - though I could argue convincingly against it - but when was the last time you played a ranked match where the lobby was made up of beginners and pros? And even if you could get into such a match, do you really think the "casual" players would stand a chance - even if they had aa and the pros didn't? AA is just like the tide. It lifts all boats or it lowers all boats. It doesn't selectively raise some and lower others. Until you start talking about PC input devices, which is a whole different can of worms. In the mean time, if you take it away it doesn't change the leaderboard. All it changes is accuracy rates. And not by as much as you think, especially at higher levels of play. Imo.