Seriously what the hell. You can be top three in your team. With an active booster, get the full 100% bonus and a premium account. And chances are, you’ll still get an absolute pittance in terms of research for your ship modifications.
Even top tier ground is faster than tier 4 and higher coastal.
I tend to agree with this as it can be quite pitiful even with premium time & especially with motor boats, I honestly think helicopters are faster in some cases (some use in PvE).
But I believe some of it has to do with targets as iirc you get less gains for lower rank stuff that’s slain while more when sinking higher rank stuff, foundering a lot of Rank I vessels usually see less RP gains but that’s a flaw of the mode after the TT changes.