No, because the mobs are still more difficult based on number of players in game. A more reasonable suggestion could be to add an “in-range party exp bonus” on top of the additional player boost.
I agree with encouraging group play, but disagree with punishing solo play to achieve it.
They only receive the step-up based on players in the game. This is part of the game’s mechanics. Make a passworded game and no issue. They do not receive the additional party bonus unless they are within 2 screens of you.
Separate ladder? Nah. Enough ladder division as it is.
/p8 to online, NO! You can play single player and have /p8, as it is hard to have fuller games on single player, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT BLIZZ REMOVED TCP/IP FOR NO REASON!
/p8 already possible in online play, simply play a game with 8 people in it. D2 was meant as a group game not a sp online game.