Eventually is the key word. What eventually looks like to the player could be 10 matches, or 1000 matches, depending on how well the ELO system is implemented.

Eventually is the key word. What eventually looks like to the player could be 10 matches, or 1000 matches, depending on how well the ELO system is implemented. Achieving an equilibrium is step 1. Allowing for upward mobility is step 2. Enabling that upward mobility to occur (correctly) over fewer and fewer games is step 3. Alternatively, you could also skip step 3, and profit off of smurfing.