I know what you mean and I can't disagree with you, some veterancy levels totally change the effectiveness of single units (vet2 and vet3 generally, vet1 on some units like PIVs and M3s) and I'd like too to see lower and more distributed buffs.
It is something we surely should discuss with Relic, but after fixing the major stuff (bulletins, heavy tanks, most known units unbalances). I'll bring this to Peter btw if he doesn't see it
You are right and there is nothing that could justify Steam nor Relic for not planning ladders in a better way. From what I know, Steam ladders are not even the final ladders type Relic is looking at and for what Relic has in mind I don't know how much we'll have to wait. It's disappointing and it should have come before. But what do you do now that you know this?
We think that the best thing to do is keep being positive and trying to help Relic speeding things up where we can because we don't feel anymore just simple customers, we feel also part of the team and part of the community, which means we want us (all of us, the community) to have all the balance and the features we required as soon as possible.
There's a lot of "behind the scenes" going on that you guys don't see, but be sure that we constantly do our best (and Relic too) to get everything done asap!
You, as normal customer, have all the rights to be unhappy (and you are right) and to choose to even leave the game, but trust me you won't be disappointed by what we are preparing for you and the awesome stuff coming in the next future ^^
Please nin3, I know you are pissed off by this situation and it's totally understandable (I even uninstalled the game till it gets patched again) but try to moderate yourself With Steam summer sales and the current Humble Bundle I'm sure you can find some games to play while you wait