I think the "esports vs expectation" comes from the main playerbase for MnB wanting large scale servers. I suspect a lot of people looked at Warband esports and saw small numbers, and now look at BL main matchmaking and see small numbers, so just draw the conclusion that therefore esports was the main goal. It's not really the case, as for matchmaking to work you simply need a smaller population game mode - to regularly fill 100 person servers via matchmaking you'd need huge numbers, even some big games can't manage it. So that's why it was one of the focused areas for BL, not really any esports consideration.
It does highlight the lack of fulfilment of community desires though, there just hasn't been anywhere for large scale casual players, and is why Battle would've been such an easy win for the developers. Just need to pop up a few servers of Battle mode, one about 40-50 capped and one about 100-150, and you appease both older Warband comp players and the casual fanbase who want cool roleplaying shield walls etc.
It does highlight the lack of fulfilment of community desires though, there just hasn't been anywhere for large scale casual players, and is why Battle would've been such an easy win for the developers. Just need to pop up a few servers of Battle mode, one about 40-50 capped and one about 100-150, and you appease both older Warband comp players and the casual fanbase who want cool roleplaying shield walls etc.