Why is aim assist allowed in Ranked?

"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.