It's a good thing they're no required for people that just want to experience the game fully. Those that want to take advantage to join their friends in the current content now have the change too, or people that want to avoid the needless grind to get to their favoured Job.

This is actually a better thing than people, it will make people more likely to come and enjoy the current content with their friends and companions. And if they don't want too, then we cans till help them run up to those levels.

I honestly do not see what the big deal is. WoW has done this for years, and that player base is still huge.