[2021] Alternatives to PUBG's failed "gulag" system

It's pretty widely recognized that PUBG's attempt at a "gulag" comeback system needs some work. The idea to bring players back isn't necessarily a bad one (although I lean towards opposed), but I'm not trying to debate the merit of it here. I am attempting to offer a few ideas that could improve the current system.

• Option 1 - Helicopter pick-up: In this option there is the comeback helicopter sitting somewhere in the zone. In order to comeback you have to enter the helicopter. This could be done by either pressing F near it or maybe only allowing entrance at the rear. Once in the helicopter you are safe. The idea being you can enter the comeback helicopter at anytime, but you must enter it before the timer is done.

• Option 2 - Already deployed emergency pick-ups: When the comeback arena starts there are a number of emergency pick-up balloons already deployed. You must be hooked up to it when the counter hits zero. While hooked up you are of course vulnerable like a normal emergency pick-up.

• Option 3 - self-deployed emergency pick-up: place a number of deployable emergency pick-ups through the comeback arena. You might have one deployed and be hooked up when the timer ends. The only part I don't like about this is folks will have to deploy the pick-up a number of seconds before the timer ends and that might create frustration if you don't quite hit the timer right. Maybe there could be a text warning that the pick-up must be deployed by a certain time in-order to make the final timer.

With all that said there are a few other improvements that I think could improve the experience as well:

• Shorten the first few zones. It takes way too long to get to the comeback arena if you die from a hot-drop.
• Consider adding one or two phases of comeback arenas (especially if you don't want to shorten the first few zones time length)
• Is it me or is the comeback helicopter silent? I feel like I don't ever hear or see it in game.

TLDR - make the comeback arena more exciting by forcing specific pick-up points instead of just surviving in the large zone.