And that's a choice they made, Not something forced on them. The current system is in place to keep the vast majority of the players (casuals) playing.
Those same (hardcore) players had to do everything they could in Classic,TBC,Wrath,Cata,Mop,Wod to stay optimal as well. Your issue is the amount of things you have to do now compared to before.
I say, sorry but that's how it is. The game is centered around the sub 5% anymore.