I get it. I really do. I've been in the MMO world for going on 13 years now. I miss the WORLD they used to present us, not the chore list. Truly I do, but there's a little problem called reality. See, 10 million people still play WoW. 80% of those people seem to be happy with the game just the way it is. Most new MMOs (TeSO included) seem to be out for one thing and one thing only; a piece of that pie. They see WoW come out with the same shit every year and they think "Shit, the playerbase can't possibly want MORE of this? They've been doing the same stuff for a decade. Don't you guys want something new?" But by the time they turn around, the community is already going:
OMG MORE "CONTENT!!!!!"
That's what they want a piece of. That's what's going to fund their game if it ever hopes to survive a 6 month window. It's depressing as all hell, but it's the staple for MMORPGs now. Take your scenario for example. Now trust me, I'm fully aware that you already know ALL. I'm just clarifying. Anyway, take your scenario of how "TeSO should have been" and release it into the hypothetical world. Now, cue players;
"Wtf. What am I supposed to do?" "I can't figure out where to go now" "Where are my quests?" "Wuts the endgame like" "LOLNUB warriors aren't supposed to use bows!!!11!" "Wuts the best way to make gold??" "Why is the auction house so stupid?" "I dont want an economy i just wunt golds. THANKS OBAMA."
We know this, companies know this and even the people these stereotypes apply to know this. Shamelessly, even. They want fed and TeSO is just trying to be their new addicting snack.