Please allow the players to choose whether or not to play arty
As an avid player of world of tanks, I completely understand why people would want arty to stay. I can also completely understand why people would want arty removed (as I am in this category). However, I believe that it would be in the best interest of everyone, player and Wargaming, to allow people to choose if they can get in battles with artillery. The benefits to this would include a much happier player base, it would lower the amount of camping, and allow for more aggressive game play.
As most people here are probably well aware, arty is one of the most controversial topics in the game. Many people complain about arty, in-game and out. When we start out games with people whining about arty (which I do myself), it can get a team off to a really bad start, and turn a potential win into a loss. Not good for the players, and can even drive people away from the game, hurting Wargaming.
Removing arty would also limit the amount of camping. I hear people all the time telling me that I am crazy to say this, but it's true. If someone has sixth sense, they can sit in a bush all battle and as long as they don't get spotted, they can stay there. They would want to camp because if they are sitting back in a bush, they have a much lower chance of getting spotted, and therefore, getting hit by arty.In the case that something spots someone while they are camping, they will know they are spotted because of sixth sense, andall they need to do is take cover until the threat is eliminated, and then they can continue to camp, and therefore hide from arty.
Arty also ruins aggressive game play, as many people on the forums have pointed out. Typically if people want to push, they have to come out of cover, at least for a bit while they move to new cover. And even if the driver is experienced and know what they are doing, as long as they are spotted arty can take them out. They might be behind cover for the tanks they are pressing against, but they are still in the line of fire for arty, and one hit can end someones ability to push.
My final point in why people should be able to choose whether or not they play with arty is this postby PajamaMan. In his post he took a poll, asking what class people would remove from the game, if they could. As I am writing this post, 41.03% said they would remove arty, seconded to no class at 32.05%. If 41.03% of people that read that post said they would like arty removed from the game, doesn't that mean that it would be in everyone's best interest to allow people to choose?
The happier the player base is, the more people play, the shorter the wait times are and the more money Wargaming makes. It is a win-win for everyone. People that complain that we shouldn't be given the choice for arty matchmaking bases solely on the fact of longer wait times, the data shows that only about half the players would remove arty, which would maybe double wait times? I'm no expert, but if my guess is right then your average wait would probably be closer to 30 seconds, which isn't bad at all. We would still all be plenty happy with the game, which is in everyone's best interest.