Possible level/story jumps....really?

[Teryaani]

^^^^^^^^^^^
This, so much this.

When we started HW, I figured this would be a deterrent to RMT botting in HW areas, because the investment in time and effort to get RMT bots to HW locations is quite high. As you say, it is effectively gated behind a lot of content which isn't easily navigated by a bot of any kind. Removing that gate or giving a potion that RMTs can exploit to jump the gate would be a terrible addition to the game from the point of view of RMT deterrence.

It was definitely nice while it lasted. I know they're putting in more anti-RMT countermeasures, but those never seem to last long.

[Kosmos992k]

It was definitely nice while it lasted. I know they're putting in more anti-RMT countermeasures, but those never seem to last long.

Yes, however, content gates that bog down RMT access to new areas and content seem to be far more effective (and last longer) than many of the other countermeasures involved. I mean, if a bot in an HW area get's removed, the RMT has to work another one all the way through ARR and then HW to achieve that again. It's non trivial and increases the cost to the RMT. Anything that slows them down, bogs them down or increases their costs is a deterrent to RMT.