Do you really expect them to always matchmake one team to have all the best players and the other to have all the bad players. That makes no sense and would not work for matchmaking. The teams need to be balanced, meaning you will probably have players that suck on your team. Join a fireteam of your friends and then enter Iron Banner you'll have a much better experience. They weren't maliciously trying to lie to you about it. They made a difference and there is a noticeably difference. It's slight but it's noticeable. Could it be more maybe. But they are looking into it and are probably open to tweaking it. Don't expect to be running around one shotting people lower levels then you that probably won't happen. Skill definitely matters. I don't care if your level 30 and I'm level 20 if you can't headshot and I can you will lose.