Recently I've been playing CB a lot and I (would have) enjoyed it a lot too, if it wasnt for the team reshuffle after each match as well as the huge amount of people who can't tell one skill from another, let alone display any rational decisions whatsoever when it comes to tactics.
I am firmly convinced that a permanent organized arena such as cb would not only be a good preparation for GW2 5v5 pvp (after which costume brawl was made, or vice versa), but also attract a great deal of players who miss having a format that would involve both intense skirmish matches (like those of TA) as well as capping, holding, collapsing and movement, all of which are (or more like, used to be) of special importance in AB, HA and gvg. Unlike those three, costume brawl teams would be easier to organise (only 5 people needed) and would allow for exciting matches played on high skill level (unlike AB, where you are grouped with random teams, HB, where you (ab)used and relied on an AI and HA, where you have to baby sit npcs and face ganks/spikes/hexways/123 dervways round the clock).
So, to sum up some facts..the pros for a permanent cb would be:
1) A fresh competitive arena involving both simple and more complex mechanics that allow for various tactical decisions on macro level as well as important skirmish matches on micro level.
2) It's a combination of AB, TA and HB, but better - it'd attract many of the ppl disappointed by the removal of the latter 2, as well as people from other formats who wish for a more sophisticated arena without all the usual button mash the recent updates even escalated.
3) It'd keep us busy until anet makes sure gw2 will have a proper (and not, a rushed) release (and perhaps it'd keep some busy even after that).
4) An arena with such depth of play cannot be random, because randomisation takes away the very essence of it - however, it should not be returned to its original RA-style sync fest either;
5) It can be fun as hell, as long as you have team mates who actually use their brain while playing (currently a rare treat).
There are also a few (cliché) cons that speak against such an endeavour:
1) No reasources available for another new arena - but: maps are there already; making it like CA with daily skill rotations, limited skill pool and a set of rules involving profession/elite skill limitations would be perfect.
2) No point creating another new arena when GW2 is round the corner - I believe we'll be waiting for at least another half a year for it, unless they rush its release, which I hope they wont.
3) They don't care about GW anymore - but they must care about the player base, since we're potential customers.
4) The question of builds - would a predetermined bar be better than a 'limited' skill deck (read 'well-thought out' and not 'random')? in the former's case it'd take extra man power to come up with the combinations that'd reach a middle ground instead of being either OP or utter trash; the rate at which skill bars are changed would be consequently less frequent, too.
5) The question of ad-hoc match-changing decisions vs preset tactics - if teams cannot make a come back vs teams of equal skill because the format doesn't allow for match-turning decisions to have enough of an effect to break a preset tactic, then the whole format wouldn't really be worth it. but it would at least be a valuable exp they can use when tweaking gw2 5v5 arena designs.
Just my 2 cents.
p.s. I created this thread in Riverside Inn because it will get the most attention there.
