1. The CRT is a starter mech because it is in fact, a noob friendly version of the assault.
It has a larger radar area. It has a larger fuel tank, and a faster fuel regen. It has a faster cooldown from overheating, and as far as I'm aware, the ability eliminates more heat than the assault. (Though that really might be only the case for the G2 Assault.)
What do these factors have in common?
They assist in the things that new players, familiar with FPS games, are not used to controlling. It's more forgiving for them. However, to keep it balanced with the Assault, it trades off a couple things, like speed and health. Things that most players are already familiar with.
Furthermore, the starting weapon for the CRT is the assault rifle. I can't speak for everyone, but I know when I started playing Hawken, I liked to keep people at a distance, because I didn't know what I was doing. The AR helped with that, while the SMC, which the assault comes equipped with by default, would help with that less so.
Don't give new players a less accessible mech just because it "looks cool." Don't rush this. Reskin the model of the CRT with assault, and Assault with CRT, if this is the route you want to take.
2. The brawler and the reaper are the cheapest mechs in the game because they represent some extremes of it. The brawler is one of the slowest mechs in the game, is intensely close ranged (with the flak, obviousy), and is rather bursty. The reaper is a relatively quick A mech, and is clearly the antonym of the flak brawler in terms of range. The AM SAR can be played as a relatively sustained weapon, and the mech is the most forgiving mech in the game in terms of fuel regeneration.
Neither of their abilities are particularly crazy, nor is the CRT's. None of them throw you curveballs, and considering all of this, they are meant to be purchased first so the player can work inward from there. (The assault is also at the same price tier, for obvious reasons.)
A new player's starting loadout should be these mechs, and be able to purchase one other mech at a rate of 50% or greater, off. Someone here stated that feeling like you have control over the direction you take as a new player is important, and I'd agree.
However, much of this needs to be explained to a new player. They can't just feel like they're being dumped on the battlefield with mediocre mechs.
The tutorial, as it stands, is garbage. The basics it teaches are rudimentary FPS basics with the slight twists that Hawken brings. It's very important that a new player is told that the mechs they are using are powerful, and why.
A tutorial is not something you can roll out by Friday, but the rest of that is, and the tutorial should be a high priority. Those of us here can wait for new content. I think you are correct in acting in a direction that assists new players first. But do it right. The tutorial, and helping players understand that they are not being tossed to the wolves out of the gate, is a high priority.
3. It's important to note that the issue isn't all new player's opinions. The issue is the opinions of the players that leave, or even those who haven't played yet and don't want to because of something they've heard.
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I would recommend releasing the CRT, Assault, Brawler, and Reaper all at once, with a 50% or greater price deduction on a new player's first purchased mech.
Give whatever becomes of the CRT all the internals. Every one. You have to lay the cards on the table for the player to see. Guessing games are discouraging, and guessing games worth literally hours of play (HC grind) are downright frustrating.
(Also, please don't slip up and skip over the players who are already existing and don't have the mechs. Give everyone in the game the same deal. Sorry, seen it happen more than once, and the backlash from those players makes it feel as if it's worth saying.)
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