It's become a chore to even log on to the game

[TheUltimate3]

I wouldn't be for specific mounts having specific bonuses. At least not something that has to be bought to obtain. Same goes for minions, but more to the point that it just leads to situations where someone will find the pet that is "the best" and then you only ever see that one. I like running around with my little Baby Behemoth and being blissfully aware that I am not handicapping myself in some way.

[Mihael_Longclaw]

I wouldn't be for specific mounts having specific bonuses. At least not something that has to be bought to obtain. Same goes for minions, but more to the point that it just leads to situations where someone will find the pet that is "the best" and then you only ever see that one. I like running around with my little Baby Behemoth and being blissfully aware that I am not handicapping myself in some way.

Two things about this, people don't use minions at all now, besides a very few amount of players, I've collect over 40 or so I think and I still rarely use them.
Secondly, it's an absolutely miniscule difference for any meaningful ones, less than food currently but to add neat effects and small boosts that are completely negligible, only the hardest of the hardcore would min/max with, there's nothing stopping you from using Baby Behemoth.

Though for mounts, I mainly said it because everything feels the same, like different skins on the same wire mesh, even the Ahriman feels like it's walking on the ground and not actually floating/flying

[TheUltimate3]

small boosts that are completely negligible

That's kind of the issue though. A boost, even small, is never negligible. I had over 100 pets and mounts in WoW (each) and I barely used any of them but my Argent Charger (all but retired Charger after Lich King), Nether Dragon for flying, and pug for pet. The idea behind mount/pet collecting has always been about having a bunch of pets and using them to your fancy.

If even 1 pet had some effect that led to even something small like 2% exp or damage, then that pet will see the most use in any real situation. No, I would prefer pets just stayed vanity without any gameplay bonus. And I see quite a few people using pets on my server, from those puppies, to the chocobo eggs things. A whole lot really.

[Mihael_Longclaw]

Snip

Makes sense, personally I have the most fun collecting them, but I only keep them out for 2 seconds to watch them play around then back in the minion list they go :P

Though.... I do bring out my Tortoise I fished up from time to time, love that little guy, how he spins around the place, haha