Partys are a mindless grind still in large groups yes, smaller 3-4 people teams not quite as much.

At least for me doing things with others is immensely more fun the solo even if grinding, I can only stomach about 30mins of solo in this game, today I played for over 6hrs in a group. But that is different for everyone. I know people who cannot stand to group at all who play mmos... why they are in a mmo I also question though.

I just get no enjoyment out of solo game play in mmos, it is all bland, the same, and ultimately boring.