Fix. The. DC. Penalty.

The penalty needs to be something other than just a timer. The simplest answer for DC's still has complications though. I think something like this would be an adequate deterrent and punishment:

Frequently DC-ing from matches (and we're talking the limit being conservative so it's actually punishing; like... 5-7 times in a month or so) puts you in the 'Quitter's Queue' with other players that have been flagged the same way. In this queue, you are only matched up with other players that are also in the Quitter's Queue. Your UI updates with a big, glaring notice 'QUITTER'S QUEUE' whenever you enter a lobby - so you know you are in there.

Only way out of the Quitter's Queue is to successfully complete - and stay - in a match until post-game results are filled in with everyone's information (when the match is actually over); this way it avoids just 'killing on the hook' to get out of the queue and forces you to have to at least stay through the entire match. If you or another player DC's from the match - the match is considered void and does not count for the number you need to complete.

Or, you spend something like 2 or 3 days in the queue and are automatically returned to normal queues at that point (for times when the player pool is so low that match times get too long (they're supposed to be long because it is a punishmment).

But - it can be abused, people can DC just to keep other players in the Quitter's Queue because it nulls the match.

It can be -- but that should be a reason why you should try not to ever be put into that queue.

You can just die on hook - this is stupid!

Then change hooks. Remove the struggle phase requiring constant input to avoid death (it's damaging to hardware and people's wrists on consoles anyway); implement 'Overcharge'-esque skill checks with only a narrow great zone. Hitting the zone, adds to your timer; but missing does not speed it up (so you can't just not do them to suicide; but if you can hit them you can draw out your hook time (with a limit of course) so a teammate can come unhook). No more suiciding on hooks because you have no way to ######### other than letting your timer run out - which requires SWF coordination or teammates giving up on you. The game already removes any options for second-chance hook yeeting if you're the last Survivor by auto-killing you through the stages anyway; so this is just the reverse, preventing you from killing yourself.

And all this comes from someone who has, on different occasions, DC'd as both a Survivor (toxic gameplay, dragging the match on just to keep playing toxically; other Survivors purposefully 99% exit gates and then not moving or opening them; etc.) and Killer (trying to complete a daily ritual and getting zero progress in games with toxic/SWF trolls, mainly).

A time penalty and losing bloodpoints earned during the match are not enough of a punishment or deterrent.