Honestly...I agree on this.
Yes, you can dodge airbursts, but that isn't the issue. The issue is that you can easily, momentarily destroy noobs, even multiple at a time, and cheaply take out any resistance.

Airburst as a tool in dueling between good players is fine. Airburst as a method of farming or compensating for strength in numbers is not.

As a point that usually gets ignored: Airburst is the main reason Heavy Classes are non-competitive.
Basically, most people just brace somewhere and camp for the rest of the game, but Heavy Weapons work great like actual, TF2-style heavies in the field. Its just that an airburst leaves you with a lose-lose choice:
Die or dodge.

And yes: The bloody skill-ceiling needs to be lowered. Like: A lot.
The only alternative is to up the skill-floor and I don't think any of us want that. In any event: The status quo is not good. Too easy for everyone who understands the basic mechanics of the game.
If ya'll are so great, you will still do fine even if the game gets a bit harder for you.

remove iframes and nade tricks simultaneously

I agree with every sentence that starts with 'remove iframes'

It is sort of comical how you can just trhow a nade and shoot it half a second later. Please get rid of this nonsense!WAHHHHGHGHGGHGHGHG

yeah thrakka and i were just instantly dropped with 1 air burst grenade from around a corner. still had health, still had armor, we each only took a few hits prior to taking cover. and we cant react to an explosion after it has already happened.

Normally you are supposed to be able to predict an airburst, before the enemy even threw the nade.
Technically you can react to the animation or the warning-indicator, but usually you know they are going to do it seconds in advance.

The problem is with players who lack this kind of feel for the flow of battle. You should not be EZ OHK to any veteran just because you are new or have a bad ping.

i do it in live games all the time - as does Durash.

you're more than welcome to prove me wrong by coming into game with me and i'll let you throw grenades at me until you kill me with them. we can even do it on US servers so you have a homefield advantage.

the game will probably run out of time and end before you do though.

sounds to me like you got caught off guard and punished for it.