Soo participation is your problem? Unless you're in K1-2 you probally wont see much full on participation every fight. Anything lower has players of all GP and they participate in different ways. I'm in K3-4 and I know someday I will do my fights, other days I will only do 1 due to Conquest, Guild related events and real life. My opponents are the same way, the more I win, the harder opponent I get, the more I loose the easier opponents I get. It's pretty 50/50 and I'm aware players are always joining and leaving the game.
TL-DR
-Everybody participates different. K1-2 probally has peek participation but it probally varies.
-Do I enjoy close match ups? Yes
-Do I enjoy winning when my opponent attacks once? Yes
-Do I only attack once and loose? Yes