I am new and only level 18 yet so tell me if I am wrong but isn't questing mostly optional? Yes, you unlock the best ammo and stuff from traders but I figured that you can find a lot of stuff in raid or even buy it on the flea market. Especially if you loot duffle bags and stashes or use keys to loot the locked rooms, kill bosses or go to labs there are many high tier items lying around on the maps. Another option would be to focus on easier daily and weekly tasks I think. I feel like there are many options besides leveling up your traders.
I have already found lvl 5 armor, helmets and lvl 5 pen ammo for my AK in raid. I know the acces is inconsistent but I think with the right looting strategy you can still get a good stockpile. For example the south western village on shoreline has about 17 jackets to loot keys from and like 20 or 30 duffle bags and stashes.
And isn't it also viable to make plays and PvP to take other player's gear? Either using the leg meta, getting headshots or using your high pen ammo? Isn't the entire point of Tarkov to PvP and isn't the whole looting, trader leveling, gameplay cycle only there to fuel your ability to fight?
