A lot of good arguments from both camps. I personally want some kind of satisfaction gear-wise and time spent. No one wants to play an EZmode game, thats why WoW lost its great player-base and is just a revolving subscription door now.

Sure there were hard-mode fights that the average player would never attempt, or get gear from. But all you really had to do was wait 2 months and get a new, easy piece of gear with a higher iLevel.

It started at the far other end of the spectrum, where ~1% of the population has set foot in the t1 raid, one reason they re-hashed so many old raid encounters.

I only hope that SE learns from history. There is a fine balance between catering to the hardcore and the masses, and leaving everyone with some sense of accomplishment.