@Kiroh I am not saying that there will be a wipe going into 2.0 from 1.XX. I will break it down into three stages:

1. All character progress leading up to the 2.0 trial/beta (this is every thing that the character has done in the current version of the game).

2. 2.0 beta/trial phase starts. The characters progress from the previous stage is saved, and a copy of that character is used in this stage. If it is an actual beta this stage would be used to test the new graphics engine, combat, UI, and any other bug testing that would need to be done in order to ensure a smooth transition into the 2.0 live release.

3. 2.0 beta/trial phase ends, and 2.0 live launches. At this point the copy of the character from the beginning will be loaded. The character that was played during the 2.0 beta/trial phase is deleted.

So here is an example: At the launch of 2.0 beta/trial phase a MRD is level 20. During the 2.0 beta/trial phase the MRD gets to level 35. At the end of the 2.0 beta/trial phase the MRD is back to level 20.

If we (the players) could choose to play either the 2.0 client or the 1.XX client then most every one would play the 2.0 client for a few days and switch back over to the 1.XX client to get as far as needed. This isn't helpful when the pint of the 2.0 beta/trial phase is to work out all the bugs. In order to do that most effectively SE would move every one over to the 2.0 client. And with the current server structure already as convoluted as it is, it would be a big pain to run both the 2.0 servers and the 1.XX servers.