I'm in favor of following the POGO model in having a score range setting for new games as an option.
This won't discourage newbies . . . they will simply set up and play games on their own. The good players will naturally rise from those games into advanced games.
The reason is simple:
When you have a wide range of scores in a 4-6 player game, score will (does) become a significant factor in gameplay.
for example: if a middle player is in a weak (losing) position and can choose to attack a strong cook on one side or a strong captain on the other . . . the cook will likely draw the attack.
Stratified games work very well. The model is proven and has worked very well for many years.
