I agree the theory isnt without flaws. It would need input/working from people who are more in the know.
But with that said if good skilled, young players with skill pops remaining are being "retired" early then they cant be that valuable, maybe the salary formula needs a slight tinkering?
this part of the game is the economic part, and it will never be perfect, but tweaks like this could make it better.
I can also understand the reluctance of the developers and coders to want to change something like this as it would be difficult to get the balance right.
Could lower div teams get a slight salary cap benefit to promote taking a risk on older higher salary players that could make the games more competitive?
like if you are Div III, you can sign one player 32+ yr old with a tsp over 105 then you can elect to have that players salary only go against the cap x% like Bird Rights in the NBA and then in Div II the % goes down.
So maybe you sign a 34 yr old, salary is $100,000 TSP is 110 (just example im throwing numbers) then you can elect that players salary is only 70,000 for that season you sign them. (30% discount for div III) if your team is in Div II then you get a 25% discount? If you have made it to the top league no discount as you are in the top league.
It could make the lower divs slightly more competitive, doesn't necessarily take away from younger player development as you know you only get that discount for the year you have the player. So you still need to develop to be competitive next season.
I know Bird rights are for retaining a player that you already have... but its the example i have.
Even then could this be a option that can be added for teams who draft a player, train him up and want his salary on "Bird Rights" it wouldn't help lower less competitive teams unfortunately but could slow the skill drain from the game?
Very much feels like since I last played (Years and years ago) Some slight quality of life improvements have been made, but not enough to keep the lower grades engaged. The game runners have done a great job adding and tweaking since I last played.
I understand that eventually all players must retired. Its just sad to see a level of good players be even unatainable financially for a team thats been glass ceilinged at Div II for 7 seasons, let alone a team thats probably bobbed up and down between div ii and div iii 3-4 times