How is Halo 2 online?

I specifically want to know the following information to help me decide if I should buy it:

1) What is the ranking system like.  Does it track your stats and have leaderboards etc.?

2) Are there modes where when you die you are out for the round (I prefer this because it makes games more strategic)?

3) Are there modes where you die from one or two shots (I prefer this also because it makes games more strategic)?

4) Is it worth getting into this now or should I just wait for part 3?

5) Is online similar to games like CofD2 and Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter (two online games I really like)?

Thanks for any info.
Jason_A

1) Good. Stats yes, leaderboards no

2) no

3) Yes. It's called swat.

4) Get it NOW

5) No. It's better.

I specifically want to know the following information to help me decide if I should buy it:

1) What is the ranking system like.  Does it track your stats and have leaderboards etc.?

2) Are there modes where when you die you are out for the round (I prefer this because it makes games more strategic)?

3) Are there modes where you die from one or two shots (I prefer this also because it makes games more strategic)?

4) Is it worth getting into this now or should I just wait for part 3?

5) Is online similar to games like CofD2 and Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter (two online games I really like)?

Thanks for any info.
Jason_A

1) I am pretty sure that it tracks online, your level basically goes up for every kills, time you survive with out dying, etc just go to bungie.com and check out the stat boards and stuff to be sure.

2) Nope you always re-spawn and it spoils the strategy of the game but runing and gunning like a mad man is still fun.

3) I dont really know i dont even know if you can create your own private game on live every time i play i just go to the matchmaker options and play any game it throws me in.

4) Get it now so you can be prepaired for Halo 3, mostley so you can get the guns down pat, work on some grenade work and also get used to the community which is mostley made up of Gangsta's wanna be gangstas, 12 year old kids, 20 year old frat boys, and people that will call you a noob when they are loosing.

5) I cant say cause i never played either of those online, but if ghost recon online is anything like the singleplayer then no, its far from that. Halo online is basically controlled chaos, you just run and shoot then wait someplace safe for a little while to recharge your shields and then run and shoot somemore. 

I specifically want to know the following information to help me decide if I should buy it:

1) What is the ranking system like.  Does it track your stats and have leaderboards etc.?

2) Are there modes where when you die you are out for the round (I prefer this because it makes games more strategic)?

3) Are there modes where you die from one or two shots (I prefer this also because it makes games more strategic)?

4) Is it worth getting into this now or should I just wait for part 3?

5) Is online similar to games like CofD2 and Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter (two online games I really like)?

Thanks for any info.
Jason_A