It can take ages to wait for a battle, so why do so many players quit either straight away or when it becomes clear they are going to lose? I thought the whole point was to fight other players' mechs, I find it really frustrating.

so you must understand even the quitters

I also dislike quitter.
And it's not just people who can't win (well, it's usually people who have just lost, but that doesn't mean they can't try again).

Some people also do it just when they're about to be defeated too (i.e. one more hit from me).

Maybe it should be changed from 'quit' to something else (e.g. 'surrender', 'self-destruct', 'run-away) etc.

Or people who have previously lost against you, get a small bonus.
Or a 'don't match against this person again' button if they loose a match (only lasting for that session and mech build)

I think maybe I should take these rambling to the suggestion forum

I agree, with many of the posts above.

I was playing the other night and another player had me cold about four or five times. I never quit and instead I went into the workshop and tinkered with my Mech till I finally started beating them. Most times if you take the time when you face someone over and over you can look at there equipment and change yours around slightly to win a battle or two.

So people do not quit I would suggest either and amount of xp being lost or maybe even you wish to quit you need to pay a 1K in game cash cancellation fee.

I will say this, some folks I have beaten a number of times in a playing session do have the guts to try and do mods in between fights and continue on. To those people I salute you!

i quit many times when i was in lower levels, it takes an eternity to have a battle... between today and yesterday there are player in every battle against me he left, and the game always put him against me, i dont have an option to stay in another battle because it is the closest in level... i hate that like 60 battles suspended in two days