Well, I'm not sure who these 'immersion folks' are or if they even still exist, and not one has popped up in this thread yet. But when I read that question, I thought more along the lines of 'economical'.
I feel a good chuck of the voters were also thinking more along the lines economics rather than immersion. There was no indication during the poll that player to player repair service would have been removed.
Such as you've stated, repairs was a profit when we could help others repair. It was really one of the only few useful distinction between the crafts to provide a service other players. Otherwise, might as well have one crafting class to do everything.
Since that service doesn't even exist any longer, and there doesn't seem to be any mention of returning it, it is only a nuisance to have to switch to the appropriate class for self-repairs.
Just in case if anyone happens to show up later that argues that it isn't that big of a deal. Here's a run down of my usual repair regiment.
- Check each item for repair type
- Switch to class to repair said item
- Can't switch class, is your armory full?
Yes, clean up armory, and return to (2).
No, continue on repairing (4).- Do you still have more different class items to repair?
Yes, jump to back to (2).
No, you're done -> (6)- Did you finish repairing all your gear?
Yes, I'm done -> (6)
No, I've missed something. Jump back to (2).- I'm done.
How this any different when you're repairing other people's gear?
It's because you normally don't repair everything for them.
Back when it was still possible, you would have multiple people repair your gear at one of the market alleys. Usually the crafter would just be sitting there on their class doing their crafting business. If you by any chance need repairs on their class, they would do it for you. On the off chance someone might switch class to repair for you, but most of the time you can't switch classes fast enough to take up their offer.
Out on the field, repairs occur outside of dungeon instances. Again multiple people would help you repair your gear. But, in this case there might be less competition, so it's entirely possible that one person could have swept up all the repair profits. Still it's really whoever could have grabbed them fast enough.