Great discussion... And I totally understand and relate to this new "age" of MMOs feeling different (I turn 30 soon... Wow, I am getting long in the tooth...).

The way the game is designed, as I think Nique was suggesting, where essentially everyone is a DPS (particularly in harder content) has been a bit of a turn-off for me overall. This design has also seen a lot of my friends unsub this week, particularly as they are waiting for 3.1 and do not feel motivated working through the same "chores" to get to where they need to be. I think this vertical progression is starting to get to people.

Game design aside, something that still bothers me is the lack of sense of community at times. As someone who actively talks during content to try and bring that "community feel" to the game, I've noticed that it is not the norm, and people can go a whole run without replying. Even in something like PvP where communication is essential - people just follow each other like a pack of ants with no communication whatsoever! Coincidentally, when you have someone calling directions in alliance chat, that's usually when you win in PvP.

This title is very different for me versus my XI experience (I left during WotG before the servers were merged etc), and sometimes it saddens me, nostalgia aside.

A place where community and communication does surprisingly happen, though, at least on Aegis, is in housing wards. It has been wonderful to have Japanese neighbours see my search comments about Hunt mobs and turn up and talk to me in various auto-translates, to invite them to Eternal Bonding ceremonies, and to cast spells and feed each other's minions at the market boards outside our houses. If only everyone could have access to housing content!