Level freezing doesn't work that way- to sustain level freezing the way you're meant to, you must also p2w.

The way level freezing works means you're cutting yourself off from everything that gives you power- if you're not gaining power, then it doesn't matter how much you level freeze, especially now that we are gaining Sun scrolls from everything- there's very little incentive to do so other than stomping nubs with high power.

Now slowing down your leveling progress by not doing the main missions is something that is possible, that should be done no matter what you are, p2w or f2p.

Now, before I even say anything further- the rewards could be spaced better, with the rewards being given for a "Field" victory, rather than top 3 but that doesn't encourage spending, which is it's own separate topic entirely.

The main problem here lies with people believing there should be any kind of fairness in a system that incentiveses purchasing to win- you're defeating yourself before the battle has even begun & that's the problem. People need to stop entering events like SWB and expecting some kind of "Victory" or "Fairness" if you're not purchasing it.
In these events your goal is to literally "participate" and get what you're given, in this case "Sun Scrolls" but in general the event was always worth participating in because 2 Advanced refines were better than 0 & that's the bottom line, if you're not paying for your 10+ refines, then accept your free ones.

I prefer the psychological aspect to it, but that discussion would get me done for inciting drama

um no i'm level freezing at 68 and i go up against lvl 76 - lvl 79's in my sage, the matchmaking and brackets are deffo not right (and they haven't been for the past 5 weeks)

as b4 i used to go up against lvl 65-72's

ok ok. what if i was to vs someone with the same amount of power as me BUT, he has bonds JM, AGK, MKS and water main blizt? while i have f2p ninjas and JM (not bonds)?