@davemccoy is saying
you will face stronger players than you currently do under this system. Under the old system, many low level account rose and diluted the competition...
But like you said, If we rose to D2 rank with the "help of bots" then those bots are also dillution. Meaning we will be condensed into bot ranks. The lower tiers will appear to new users and "cheap/poor" users that Splinterlands is FULL of bots. It will look like only bots play the game. Scaring off new player.
It will depend on where your deck level stands... of course there are many bots that play the game, but you will rank where your collection score puts you. That will mean that others will be in the same boat and you will have much competition as people are back to where the game originally intended them to be (mainly based on summoner levels).
Also don't forget that ALL playing adds the the bloat of the ranking system as it stands now, so even level 1 bots rising higher can aid your weaker competitors to rising up. Now those bots will be capped in the lowest of all leagues and the bloat will have much less effect to others in much higher up.
As to the new player experience, I definitely think you are right. They need to do a much better job of creating a fun atmosphere for the new and less experienced players so that they enjoy it.