: If microtransactions are here to stay, they need to be less intrusive, less grind-y and RNG-dependent, and less likely to impact gameplay. This "Month of Mythic" is an example of everything wrong with MTs. The REQ system needs to be overhauled a good bit, and I have a few ideas of my own, which I'm also incorporating into my current UHG article overhaul

Agreed that they need to be less grindy (it took me months to finish unlocking every weapon after all those useless emblems), but disagreed that Month of Mythic is the wrong direction. Letting us unlocking specific weapons in specific packs (if for a greater cost) is more satisfying to me than having to rely on luck if I get anything useful or not. It's especially helpful if the player doesn't have time to play Halo for months on end and would just rather have some quick fun with a Mythic for an hour before having to resume work.

: Osiris and Blue Team sans John all felt like rather flat characters, a problem I also had with Noble Team in Reach.

Your opinion is your own on the execution, but Halo 5 and Reach's character writing is pretty different. Noble Team gets multiple scenes focusing on developing individuals' personalities. Halo 5 has barely any for Osiris and none for Blue Team. Its story feels to me like the most fastest (as in rushed pacing) Halo story yet.