Having the grind to max level be quick is not a justification for it to be a poor experience, especially in an MMO. The process of levelling is the core gameplay that everything else revolves around or emulates. If grinding out levels in an MMO feels bad, then there is a crippling problem in design.

Many arguments against a talent system that I see here consist of "too difficult to balance" or "false progression". Setting aside whether or not these things are true at the moment, what kind of a system would you rather see in place to get around the button bloat/level cap dilemma? I've not seen a single alternative suggestion yet.