In regards to BQ needing free mode and the stamina system to ensure that Rank 1 and 2 don't die:
This is Sega's fault entirely. Free mode never needed to exist, because the ranking system for BQ never needed to exist. They should have stuck to difficulties like they have been, and added an "Advanced" difficulty over Extra Hard.

BQ missions literally be re-skins is the most horrible thing about them. I'm not going to get excited for a single mission after this one knowing that they'll all be the same. BQ2 should have had a different terrain. I would have put the castle smack dab in the center of the stage, and have the buster piles / towers on all 4 sides of it. This would have made the mission much harder.