You are right about the connection but wrong about the player skill. When you are in a full fireteam your teams average combat rating is what determines who you play. So let's say 5 of your teammates are .9 kd and one teammate is 2.0 kd. Your average team kd is 1.08. So your enemy's will likely be around this 1.08 kd which is not far from a .9 kd so you won't notice any difference. However your 2.0 kd teammate will be far superior to everyone in the lobby and will have the easiest games of his life racking up kills and carrying the team which will likely bring your team the win. I have experimented with this in the last three iron banners. I have a 1.25 average kd and most of my friends are better than me with a 1.75+ kd. When I play iron banner with them I get destroyed because the average team kd and skill is usually 2.0+. But if I pick up a bunch of randoms off the forum to Create a fireteam and all of their kds at at or below 1.0 I have the best games ever and am top of the leader board every game. Skill is still the primary factor for matchmaking and winning games.