on topic;
Sandbox is defined, how well each individual player is doing in it - 100% up to them. Every single player has all the same stuff to use as any other player.
It is quite fun to ramp up to max possible power where all the strategy, gear, players, voicecom is the best. It's a blast. If you happen to meat other team like that, it morphs into completely different game. You can actually feel your heart beating(when was the last time it happened to you?).
So, everyone, step up your game, make premades, you will never want to go back to "random people" caricature BGs.