Thus far I agree with everything said so far.
After playing I realize one thing, This Game Needs Comp. Not to make Care Bears out of us, but to create diversity in lists.
While I realize there exists a Uber-competitive army of the month sect who want Extreme competitiveness, that hurts the community by making the tournament pool shallower as no one really wants to get stomped every game because they brought last month's lists.
It's suppose to be about who's the better general.
My favorite game was #2, not because he didn't bring 5 Riptides, but because he brought a themed Nurgle Beast list that was extremely well painted and really stood out. His list was what 40k should be.
My three Riptides made him take 1000 points of that off. I tabled him because I brought 3 Riptides.
Each Codex alone deserves to be competitive.
GW has failed to do so. That leaves the community to do it.
I will embrace BG's attempt to make the game more inclusive and balanced either by a different system ie Highlander or Swedish Komp or the NOVA PDF.
Gundam John