The new drop system in ranked sucks

First let me start by saying that I agree with you about preset drops being a bad idea. I don't play a lot of ranked to begin with, but once in a while I'll give it a go. Usually when they've made some controversial change. Like this season. And I too hate it. But EA_Mako​ is right to point out that many people have seen this in ALGS and asked for it in the game. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around whether it's a specific type of player who likes it or a different specific type who hates it, but that's all beside the point. I get that the people in favor of it like the more controlled pacing and the fact that it makes it easier for the team to stick together. Or harder for them to wander apart. But many an autocrat has used the argument that things will be better for more if they wrest choice from the individual. In some rare cases that may even be true. What is always true is that if a player has choice and makes a bad one then that's on him and no one else. If an autocrat takes my choice away and makes it for me... and makes a bad one then I just leave and go find somewhere else to exercise my free will. In this case, pubs and Wildcard. So no real loss to the developer. But there's still a principle involved. It's still a bad idea. And unfortunately this is an example of a bad idea that has a big impact. As does the squad elimination mechanic in Wildcard (and previously in other LTMs). These two changes are, in my best guess, something you will see adopted into the main game across the board over time. Probably within the next few seasons. They've been flirting with these changes too hard for too long to have them not become the norm. And that, imo, is bad for the game. On both points.

Second:

"Apex is a fast-paced action shooter and the gameplay should reflect that."

I couldn't let that go without two cents. Apex is not definitively a fast-paced action shooter. It's a shooter that uses battle royale mechanics as its primary game mode. And the beauty of battle royale, imo, is that the pacing is variable depending on a lot of different factors, but primarily position, timer, and the discretion of the individual player. In fact, a lot of players would argue, as you have, that the game is too slow and needs help to speed it up. To which I would reply, "Please go play mixtape or Wildcard, and leave battle royale to the patient."  So many people in this game seem to feel entitled to a certain number of engagements per minute and/or a guarantee that they can engage when and where they want without interference from third parties. And the truth is that neither of these things is a feature of battle royale. A match MIGHT be perfectly paced, but more often than not it isn't. And I'm not sure you can ask for faster pacing without crossing the "less third partying" crowd. For whom this change was (mistakenly) made.

I guess where I'm going with this is: Ask for the game to be any way you would like it to be, but be careful which arguments you marshal behind your opinion. Sometimes, as in this case, they make the argument in favor of the opposite opinion as well.