1.00 was a flop, it wasn't a bad game. Most never gave it the time of day, that was the problem. It was for those of us who played it, a 'flawed' sandbox. It was still an open world sandbox though and had the best graphics and animations at the time, hands down, of any MMO out there. It was the only game at the time, 14 still is as far as I know, that puts your character in story mode cut scenes the way it does.
ARR/ HeavensWard are alive and well, SE had to do what they did but I'm going to remember 1.00 with fondness. I still have all my Marmot Pelts, even though they be useless.