Battlefield has always been unique because of its community and its servers, not just because of its maps or weapons.
The announcement about the Server Browser is the first piece of news in a long time that genuinely excited me. Battlefield 3 remains my favorite game in the series because of its server communities. There were Hardcore servers with regular players, active admins, carefully chosen map rotations, and rules that created a unique experience. You didn't just queue for a match - you had a place you came back to every evening.
Battlefield 4 still preserved some of that feeling, but it also marked the beginning of changes that gradually moved the series away from what originally made Battlefield special. Portal has never replaced that experience for me. Searching by tags is frustrating, finding the type of server you want is difficult, and there is no real feeling of having a "home server." I truly hope the new Server Browser brings back what made earlier Battlefield games so memorable: persistent communities, proper filtering, favorites, and an easy way to find exactly the kind of server you want.
Hardcore has always been my favorite way to play Battlefield. For me, it isn't about making the game easier - it is about making combat feel meaningful. A headshot should be decisive. Weapons should feel dangerous. If a tank shell explodes right next to an infantry player, I expect it to be lethal. When explosive weapons feel too weak against nearby targets, they lose the sense of power and impact that Battlefield has traditionally been known for.
Another issue that has significantly reduced my enjoyment is the current gunplay. There are moments when it feels like I land far more shots than the outcome suggests, only to be eliminated almost instantly in return. This has been happening long before the latest update, so I don't know whether it is caused by netcode, lag compensation, synchronization, or another technical issue. As a player, however, it creates the feeling that gunfights are inconsistent and difficult to trust.
The latest weapon balance update introduced another issue for me. Many weapons now feel as if their bullets travel much slower than before. With some weapons - especially the new VSS - it almost feels like shooting underwater. Whether or not the underlying numbers changed exactly that way, the overall gunplay feels noticeably less responsive than it used to.
I'm also glad to see that you're acknowledging problems with matchmaking, including bots, uneven teams, high-ping matches, and inconsistent match quality. Personally, I would rather play on a half-full server with real players than on a full server populated by AI. These issues have a much bigger impact on my enjoyment than new cosmetics or seasonal events.
Personally, I would happily trade several new maps for a stronger multiplayer foundation:
a reliable Server Browser,
thriving Hardcore communities,
the option to play on servers without bots,
better netcode,
consistent hit registration,
and responsive gunplay.
Many Battlefield veterans don't necessarily want dozens of new maps. In Battlefield 3, many players spent years on the same servers with the same favorite maps because the experience itself was excellent. The community, the server, and the gameplay kept people coming back - not the constant addition of new content.
If Battlefield 6 can bring back that feeling, I believe it will have something truly special again.