This game is a success at the moment. Everything is the way it is because it is what makes people pay to play this game. Like you mentioned how awesome Rift was, and all those other games. You know what happened to cool innovative games like that? Flops! Wildstar? Please, we all know what happened to that game. Don't get me started on rift though, I loved that game... but it probably was too unapproachable for some. Easy MMOs sell! That's the difference. If this game swapped up the elements so much, we'd have another Rift or Wildstar and it would just die a horrible death like those and probably go free to play.

This game is fine. Official forums always say their MMOs suck. I frequented Rift and WoW forums, same deal. Once they start going into death throes by putting the relics on the cash shop or something, I'll get worried. People don't want innovation, they want the things they like copied from other games. They want it to be easy and require little effort or thinking. Just look at how first person shooters or football games work (rehashed over and over)! :P Hey, FFXI went on for what, 12+ years? These guys have incredible drive and willingness to make this MMO their life's work. I think it's in good hands.