I wanted a game and all I got were cutscenes

[Gyson]

You have to remember that returning players don't get to break up the story into 5-hour-chunks-every-3-months. You have to catch up on ALL of the story you've missed before reaching relevant/worthwhile gameplay options.

I spent the last 3 weeks grinding cutscenes. About 5% of my playtime was actual gameplay. The rest was dialog.

Even skipping cutscenes, it's still "wow I have 95 quests left to run around skipping before I can do what I feel like doing in this game right now."

Ok, but you have to remember that active players can go weeks/months between updates without any story, where all they've been doing is grinding combat. And if it comes down to designing a game for active players versus possible returning players, I'm going to have to side in favor of the former.

Also, nowhere does it say you had to spend the last three weeks grinding cutscenes. Why can't you just play the game normally (i.e. a little mainstory questing mixed in with a plethora of other activities that are available).. you know, pace yourself rather than trying to race to the end as fast as possible. That's on you, not anyone else.