Old games had it right... The initial level cap took about 5-7 months to achieve (not 1 week), Then you would need another 2 - 3 months of hardcore farming to get your desired gears... during this time, after u get level cap you spend about 6 mounths (3 mounths with you maxed gears) to farm big world bosses, pvp, and exp your guild and this nearly always in open pvp maps to create competition betweend guilds. (no maxed FC in 3 days). By the time you achieved that without a sigle time having to feel like you have nothing to do... 1 year passed and your body was ready for a level cap raise! (your old equipment wasn't useless then... as you would need it to level and farm new equipment)
Ohhhhhh old mmos, i miss you.