I'm not saying it ends at high level, but if an MMORPG doesn't really begin until you get to the end game, it's a terrible game. I'm sure I'll like the high levels. But I liked mid levels too. If mid levels have become some part just to hurriedly rush past, and not enjoy on their own sake, then I'll be missing something. I want to enjoy both the mid levels AND the endgame.

If getting to level 99 allows you to 'actually play the game', then it sounds like the first 98 levels are just some chore to get over with, rather than an actual game to play. I liked that leveling, and I don't want to play in a way that just gets it over with. If XP gain is improved, that's okay, but I don't want to just engage in some trivially easy grinding that will reduce those mid levels to a chore, rather than the enjoyable journey I remember.

If XP rates are increased 5-fold over what it used to be, or something, that's fine, but I still want those parties where playing really well had a serious benefit in XP-gain, and TPK was a real possibility for poor playing. Easy grinding is what renders most MMOs dull to me. If leveling to 99 still retains that challenge and reward for good play, even at a much higher leveling speed, that's all I need. If it's just another easy, mindless grind, then I'm not going to play some dull game for hours just so I can get to the fun stuff.