Since the game released i've had a few friends try it out with me. And every time there is an awkward moment around the first game. In order to play spike rush, you have to start by playing 1 unrated game first. Yet in my anecdotal experience, it would be better/simpler/easier to start with spike rush every time.
- Shop: spike rush has no buying, shop, or economy - it is only about the gameplay. an unrated game you also need to teach new players what to buy and when
- Bombs: in spike rush everyone has a bomb, so there isnt pressure on new players knowing when to plant when they accidentally pick up the bomb. also more practice
- Time: often by the time new players download and install they may not have 40 minutes for a full game. spike rush is fast and gives an immediate taste of the game
- Guns: spike rush lets you try out every gun in a low stake environment. you arent screwing your team over when you buy an odin early - everyone will have the same.
I know its a minor thing, but with this game attracting lots of new players who never played CSGO previously - there is a very steep learning curve. Spike rush is a great game mode to soften that learning curve! It lets people try out new characters, new guns, and learn the maps in a low-stress environment. But for some reason theres a requirement that you play one game of unrated before you can get to that simple, low-investment mode. And let me tell you, brand new players to the genre in their first unrated game are, unsurprisingly, really bad at it. and often have a bad first experience with the game because of that.
But if new players could start with spike rush, it would make for a smoother learning curve
edit: default mode should still be unrated, but give new players the option.