I agree that this whole not being punished for losing is, to be polite, bothersome.
When I was learning how to play chess, my grandfather did not let me win. Nor my father. I lost over and over again. I learned from my mistakes because there was a real reward in winning. And when I did win, I knew it wasn't because it was handed to me, it was because I earned it.
Now, on the other hand, had my father and grandfather yell at me to get better or mocked me for my mistakes, I would feel the game wasn't worth the stress and quit (as many do with many games, after all, is a fictional universe that is meant to be fun worth stress and rage? Why play a game if it's not fun?). But they were encouraging and took time help me learn. This gave much more satisfying games as a result. We still play chess, and in turn I taught my siblings.
But on the other other hand, that was because I wanted to learn and willing to take time to do so. Had I thrown a fit, they wouldn't help me learn because the situation wouldn't warrant the stress.
Trouble is there isn't a clear right-wrong-no-exceptions answer. While I have met some very polite and eager to learn players, there are of course those that are less so. Should those that are willing to learn be punished because others are obnoxious? Should members have to constantly deal with unskilled and unwilling to learn players for the sake of those that are not? Is it even worth it?
As was pointed out, a bigger player base would solve many of the issues, but only if players actually stick around. All of this is pretty accurate.
I've stressed it before, and stress it again. We need, not just want, but NEED Co-op. Pretty please with Loch on top.