Quote Originally Posted by Ksenia View Post
I think people forget the end game in 2.00 and how it wasn't really any better there. I ignored it then and thought this might be a good time to try because I can get potash for a song.
Back then, the result of the grind was being able to craft or gather things that were high in demand and additionally low in supply. The various starred items of ARR were useful and desirable. The way forward also wasn't gated by an artificial lockout--you could grind as casually or as furiously as you wanted.

Now, we're unable to craft/progress at our own pace, materials are scarce, and the "rewards" at the end of the grind are by and large meaningless. That's why the HW system is a problem when compared to the ARR one which, although not perfect, still functioned in a meaningful, rewarding way.