There are currently 11 agents, and you start out with 5. It doesn't take long to unlock an agent, thanks to the weekly missions, but they are weekly and start from lower to high. This means it will take several weeks of moderate play. Sure, people can purchase the agents to get into ranked faster, but it costs them 1500 * 2 or 3 VP; its not free.

Not only will it slow down smurf production, but it motivates the smurfs to actually complete their unrated games. Also, from a new player's perspective, entering ranked with out-of-the-box agents doesn't really make sense to me, they should get the opportunity to access and try new agents before they start ranked.

Overwatch allows ranked once players hit level 25 or 10 hours of straight play,

Csgo allows ranked once players hit level 2 but it takes at least a week or two because of how the xp gained trails off the more you play for that week.

LoL.... about 280 games (20-50min ea.)(i played since s1) and 20 champions unlocked: It took me three years to access ranked. But considering its a moba, and there is a learning process about the rules of the game, it makes a bit more sense than an fps. Still a bit ridiculous imo.

These exist to limit beginners to learn to game and it indirectly limits smurfs. It's not beta anymore, so this can be a pretty good bandaid fix. Done is better than perfect, and this will help in this immediate time.