I'm a casual TF2 player. So the recent "random drop" system of awarding rare items was great for me! For high-end players, though, it wasn't so great, and they got upset. If only Valve had seen that coming!
In the future, hopefully they will, with the creation of a new "closed beta" for the game. Incorporating members of serious TF2 clans, it'll be used as a testbed for future changes made to the title, so that Valve can get an idea of how an alteration affects not just the mass playerbase, but the pointy, hardcore end of it as well.
Clans from both Europe and North America will be involved, with the testers rumoured to be taking a look at how tweaks can be made to the Sandman. There are even whispers of a flame-resistant suit for the Spy...
Team Fortress 2 Closed Beta to Test Pro Tweaks [Shacknews]