The burden of being in charge.

[Sidious]

Its his game, why does he need your input? After looking at all the "input" that came out after the announcement of a server merge (aka RAGGGGEEEEEE) I don't want him listening to most of the people that post on here and making decisions about the game with it. Have you read what people write on these forums lately? REALLY? Those are the people you want making game decisions. He should do what he feels is right because thats what real leaders do.

And don't get me wrong, I don't want him listening to me either. Why you ask? Because I don't design games for a living.

This. So much this.

While I agree with you on the personal attacks thing, remember, we're paying customers (and SE is paying him, as well). We're not children, and he is not there to judge what is "for our own good". This is a transaction, not an issue of parenting.

Besides that, feel free to explain how this is "vegetables". How is this ultimately good for us? How does this meet any standards set by the Dietary Reference Intake/MMOs in the last five years?

I've said it before and I'll say it again: When you smack two servers together, you get two distinct communities trying to coexist (sometimes quite unsuccessfully). With option 4 you're creating entirely new, cohesive communities.

Blanket merges have sucked in every game they've been done in. They are an absolute last resort because of the negative connotations associated with them. If said connotations didn't exist, game studios would perform them more regularly. Option 4 is also a last resort, but something like it hasn't really been done before. With that in mind, I wonder what your basis of comparison is? You don't have one. You're just assuming doom and gloom. Which is all the more reason why you're not qualified to make judgments on game design.