Originally Posted by
raviadso
1) You don't have to do the Garrison "minigame" AKA managing your minions, upkeep, adding new buildings, defending against invasions, etc.
2) You do have to earn a garrison. It's central to the questing, but you don't have to touch your garrison again.
3) You don't need to work on your garrison to get to 100. You can quest, grind, do dungeons, PvP, develop professions, do scenarios, etc.
4) The Garrison will help you get quests, move around the world, etc. but is 100% optional 90-99 as well as at 100. Highly suggested/helpful? Yes. Required? No. Stupid to avoid? Yes.
Also, the whole theme of this expansion is building up an army on a hostile planet. Garrisons give you gear, teleportation to other zones, additional bank/AH space, gold, crafting mats, alternative professions, additional quests, fun challenges, etc. but because 20% of WoW players will always be sniveling whiners, Blizz made one of the central elements of their new expansion optional.