I'd have to say that BF2142 is the better game.. It seems a bit more refined as well as balanced to a better degree.
Unlocking stuff is a nice extra. If your new and you suck you can always join the servers that don't allow unlocks. 
FS is probably one of the best reasons to buy BF2142 but i've found I like it for other reasons as well.
Weapons are very accurate if you use semi-auto and aim your shots.
Assaulting the titan is quite fun as well.
All the extras you can outfit yourself with makes the game and I hate going back to BF2 and the rigid class system thats used in it.
I've got about 1/2 the unlocks and its really quite fast to unlock more. Its not really a factor having people just trying to get points. I always get the most when theres good teamwork going on. People on public servers are always going to run around on their own with little thought to teamwork. I don't think you can rightly blame a Ranking system on it.
Frankly when I want to get the next unlock I'm more inclined to work in a team as it gets me points way faster.
I don't see how soloplaying/camping/statpadding = Game is ruined..
people like "soloplaying" it is never going away in games where people are somewhat free to do what they want.
"Camping" I always just think is an excuse to whine about your team getting your asses kicked.. Its about winning using whatever is at hand. Sure it sucks when you get blown to squeezey pooh over and over again.. So do something about it.. Try to organize your team so on the next map rotation you don't get beat down to only one spawn point.
Statpadding.. Who cares.. It doesn't really effect anything that happens on the battlefield. Skill in the stuff you pick decides the outcome. If you pick carefully theres no reason you can't be outfitted just the same as someone who has played for a long time or that has cheated his way there. Aimbots just make things more of a challenge.. 