I think it is a loss kinda in a weird way
I mean we get 8 fight tokens a day now, and 20 tavern fights a day, so if you did 80 fights that would take you 10 days, and you'd get 360 skill points (16 per day from fights, 20 per day from tavern, assuming you don't die).
Now if you did those 80 fights with trophies you'd only take 1 hour, but you'd end up with only 160 skill points.
Now the reason why i think this matters is that you get the bulk of your exp from arena fights, so if you "trophie" threw levels you'll end up with far less skill points then someone who goes up "natural", so now your higher level, but you've got less skill points then someone who came up with no skill points and they kick your ass due to them having so many more skill points then you. Now why on the other hand this doesn't apply to your "magic 4" and Reeko, they are already in primus so its not going to hurt them to get extra levels as they are already fighting the top end glad's. But I don't think i'd want to take a glad from 1-50 with trophies, you'd be low on skills at the end once you hit 50, unless you'd be willing to keep spending them to catch up those missing points.