Good morning pugman,
Please note that both the higher and lower ranks go up or down depending on your victories or defeats respectively.
The subscription is not mandatory, it is optional and brings huge advantages since being able to play in tournaments, visualize the game in full screen, visualization of more information of games played, among other great features.
Finally I would like to inform you that all players, regardless of their ranking, have the right to play with whomever they wish, it would be pointless to force them to play against their own will and options.
Good luck and have fun 👍
Regards
Dav7d