Dbuk is right. Medal awarding has nothing to do with player level and why should it? If you wanna farm medals then why should players who played longer or paid more be handicapped? Get your priorities right and quit moaning. If you want medals then play for medals and accept that most fights...
Yes they are. I have been attacked by the top3 players. All with planes, blimps, tanks etc. It's cool watching the replays. I also attacked no 1 player and he had like 50 spawned tanks all across the battlefield.
If you are frustrated by 14 hour upgrades then you should probably just let it go now. Upgrades get yp to a week long and will be longer in industrial age.