It doesn't matter if you disagree with this, it's causing players to leave and is unhealthy for the game's longevity. if YOU like PvP then you would choose the antagonists option "on" in their hypothetical scenario. But the option to turn it OFF wouldn't hurt anyone who wants to PvP and keep it on. I don't understand people like you who want to decide for OTHERS just because they themselves like something. More options are ONLY a god thing.
People have been telling MSE for a long LOOOONG time now that they don't want PvP and that many people leave because of PvP. MSE, in my opinion, is being forced by higher ups who don't understand the situation or are being blindly stubborn and believe we like something we don't. This WILL hurt their game, it already is. And even more no than ever since it's so hard to get BP and rewards. The antagonists is even LESS liked than before since he can fuck your progress in a very bad way. Having an antagonist, as I've said before, doesn't rewards ANYTHING more than what you would already gain verses AI. In fact, it gives you LESS then what you would normally get. So there isn't any incentive to WANT an antagonists in your game.
I see newer players all the time, level 1 to 10 range, just disconnect when they see an antagonists, or just stand there and go AFK. I don't blame them, antagonists are nothing but making a player be a gate for progression, it's a dishonest divisive tactic. And it's no fun. I don't find it fun when I win against an antag either, because I didn't get anything special for winning that I couldn't get normally if not more, and the antag player lost and got shit rewards, and it didn't add ANYTHING beneficial to the match. So I just shake my head when we beat him because he reduced my rewards more than what we could normally get and he certainly didn't get the rewards he would normally get so we both lost. NO ONE gained above what they could get scoring a 9 point or higher score in PvE. And when he wins, I am tilted beyond believe and am likely to throw the game in resentment if I ever see him on my team so we are ven again and so it breeds toxicity between PvEers and PvPers, and I don't feel guilty. Why? It's easy, it's forced so I don't care.
they could fix all this and more, all they have to do is make it optional. Options are never wrong. I don't care about your "philosophy" and what you believe PvP should be seen as. I don't care if you enjoy it and youo think I should be forced to enjoy it. I just don't. But making it optional would mean both PvEers and PvPers can coexist, they could CHOOSE how they want to play the game (GASP BLASPHEMY, I know). And they could leave each other the fuck alone and players wouldn't leave when they are level 3 and have to fight a level 180, well carded, max forged Alicia going 100 mph through the air one shotting them. I mean how shit of an experience that is. They have EVERY RIGHT to leave, EVERY RIGHT to find it unpleasant and EVERY RIGHT to tell their friend NOT to play this game and to give it a terrible review on Steam or any other forum.
Wake up MSE.