I’ll admit,

I’ve only made it by mere luck to Lv. As Elvaan Samurai but even then the cost of food buffs & gear equipment was far primitive & basically it hardly made sn avenue to advance forward at that time (hell crafting was consider only a luxury for those that had the Gil to start it).

I will never forget back in Valkrum Dunes being rejected & booted out of groups often due to having below average MP as Elvaan white despite being geared.

In my opinion, the META in that game that so players reinforced was poison. Hence why I couldn’t bother & sadly resorted to Guild Wars eventually