What you are getting at basically is the difference in MMORPG games today and how they use to be years ago before WoW. The term "theme park MMO" is to describe the MMOs of today, as they are fast moving with progression, content and tend not to make players need a group to progress until end game content. Game developers have discovered higher profit with this model and in some games F2P models yield higher profit for them then when they were subscription.

I play because of the brand. I am a fan of Final Fantasy, and enjoy it's universe. I played FFXI for years since it's PS2 release in the US, and I remember the utter brutal nature of the game. I can look back on that time with fond memories. I found friends in that game I have kept even to this day. But that feeling of accomplishment you mention? I rarely saw it over several years. Now granted, it really meant something to finish something in FFXI, because it took you so damn long to get to it. I just don't have that time anymore. And I would never go back to that type of game.

You'll be hard pressed to find a modern MMO that is produced in that type of hardcore setting, there is a reason for that. Hardly anyone would play it, and a company wouldn't produce it because of that.