The new player has a steep hill to climb to be competitive

Outside of big cities, I think the answer is YES (if you do live in a big city, even most people who played from the beginning aren't competitive, I guess).

I started playing this game three months ago in february. I am now level 33 without spoofing and without maps. I am certainly competitive where I live now, albeit that is a small town. Based on my experiences I was actually contemplating writing a guide to new players who want to get competitive FAST (without buying an account, which is just stupid), but I figured that there probably isn't an audience for it.

But yes, it is a grind levelling up that fast. You need to have the mentality for it. On the other hand, it is a great excuse to get a lot of exercise. And yes, I have a fulltime job - I don't spend THAT much time on this game.

I'm almost Lvl 39 now, get 100 coins a day from the 16 - 18 mons sitting in the mostly stable Lvl 10 gyms in town. Back when I was Lvl 30 ages ago it was hard to get more than 20 coins, because the gyms chanced hands all the time and you got kicked out as soon as you turned your back. I just checked the five gyms I can see from here, there are three players below Lvl. 30, and one Lvl. 28 has a mon in three of them. Doesn't seem so bad.

There should be some special gyms where only players below level 30 can attack and slot in Pokemon.
Players below 30 can still slot in the 'normal' gyms.

Rural gyms around here, though can hold more than 21 hours, are usually mostly filled with more than 2900 CP pokemon.

I think you're looking at it from your own perspective.

A new player isn't as concerned about gyms. The first 20 levels are all about having fun and filling your dex. And you do level up really quickly in the first 20 levels, and even up to level 30 is fairly quick.

Once they reach 25 or so, they'll have some solid Mons that can fight and defend gyms. They'll have a 2000 Exeguttor, Gyarados, Rhydon, and hopefully a good hatched Snorlax or two.

Yes, they won't be able to compete in the level 10 gyms. But they can battle low level gyms, win, and place their 2000cp Pokémon in there. They might hold it for a few minutes or a few days.

Once they get to Level 30 or so, they still might not have many true gym defenders over 2800cp, but they will have attackers that can take down anyone, even us level 37 players.

Also keep in mind, gym rewards are not THAT great. Coins are important, but you can buy them (when I was a new player, I spend much more $$). And stardust is very important, but you don't really get that much from gyms.

To be level 1 again...sounds fun to me.

Just like most competitive games if you have a late start etc.

However possible matchmaking would solve this...based on either trainer level or the current team you have selected

The system already in place in gyms that lowers a pokemons cp to match what you are using is kinda similar as it can help lower level players still have a chance

Some areas would be a breeze. A lvl 5 player could easily collect 100 coins a day here. Would be easier than during release that's for sure. I've had 9 mons in gyms for 4 weeks now in low lvl gyms. Some much longer.

I've been thinking about switching to using just one type even (lightning maybe) for attacking and defending just to make it interesting.

I am a casual player, but if someone really wanted to, like someone else posted, you can easily get to competitive levels in most places by simply playing a bit more...

If anything, it's EASIER now to level fast with 1st catch bonus, double exp events, 1st spin/catch, 7 day streak, etc...

NONE of the high level people who started when the game launched got these and were high level much much slower and worked much much harder...(played longer/spent more time).

Like the guy who posted that is level 33 here and only started in Feb, low levels can be done super quick now if you research, plan, grind a bit harder, etc...I seriously think someone can hit 30 in 1 week going pretty hard.

All that said, the other comment about any level 25+ player can tear down a level 10 gym filled with level 40 players already makes gyms/game easy.

What they need is more gameplay so when people hit 30, they still want to do stuff after catching that 1000 pidgey.

I'd guess the large majority don't even bother with gyms except minorly to past the time since it's a waste of time/resources and low exp rewards...

I don't bother attacking rival towers for the same reason (level 35+) since I'd have to waste my gas/time to take out some random level 10 gym and I get nothing for it...I also don't find it challenging or fun so maybe that's just me...

Gyms have become sorta like work for me (I get 6-10 gyms daily now) so hoping for MORE ways to get pokecoins, dust, etc...which will allow lower level players to have fun too.

Like get 20 great throws in a row, get 10 excellent throws, walk 10km in 1 day. Battle with a fairy type Pokemon. Beat 7 defenders in 1 round to unlock stuff.

I would like a Pokemon house so I can play without "Go"ing anywhere.

Depends on the purpose of playing.

If the target is to reach high levels fast then just a lot of playing is needed.

There are videos in YT how to get level 20 in one day.

During the last event one guy collected about 10 million XP in one week. This is the absolute extreme of course but 10 mil points takes a player to level 37!

Levelup works faster in the beginning and gets slower in every new level. At the same time CP increase for mons works vice versa.

I've been tempted to start over because I am slowly getting bored.

Once you hit Level 30 you can be competitive. It only takes 1 week to 1 month to reach level 30

im lvl 37 and i can asure you, the actual difference between a lvl 30 and a lvl 40 pokemon is very small.
if you and your wife fight as a team, together you can beat every pokemon very, very easy. no mater what. look for its weakness or even better doubleweakness and watch em faint. dont care if you can hold the gym... take the xp the other team prestiged and have fun.

cheers