I guess you didn't play the same version I played. I've been messing around with MMOs for going on a decade at this point, and despite being extremely familiar with the generic MMO controls and how to interact with the world, it took me 6-8 hours play time to get to level 10. And that's not due to old age
It's due to my interest in what makes this game different from any other MMO. I like to take my time with new stuff, I get more enjoyment out of things that way. I'll level no matter what I spend my time on (unless I quit), so I don't feel a need to rush myself. I've been in my share of betas, and while they're fun and exciting, becoming too familiar with an as-yet-unlauched game has been known to accelerate the rate with which I become disinterested in it, post launch.