Not so much if you do it wisely:
1. Do research with those who don't play ranked.
2. Understand what the problem is.
3. Make hypotheses for solutions to the problem.
4. Test these solutions with a minimum of development.
5. Develop better solutions that work.
This is a standard process of product development. And among other things there is no need to reinvent the wheel when you can also look at the best practices of games in which this mode is alive, such as the arena in World of Warcraft which has been played for decades.
Instead of that some random decision like “let's lock the best equipment under the rating” is taken, which doesn't work and it's concluded that the mode is not necessary and it should be closed. No, that's not how it's supposed to work.