Originally Posted by
Redblade
Easy mode changes peoples motivations though, the gradual nerfs changes peoples motivation as well, the lack of an overall purpose and goal is what's being removed by introducing easy modes and the practice of herding players through content.
To use DS as an example, a guild who started out doing LFR and progressing through normal and got up to spine before the nerfs kicked in, over the course of the nerfs they keeps progressing to end up at spine yet again with the max level buff. This means they did the same difficulty for the duration of that content, what's the motivation in that? I mean they could just as well unsubscribed and waited for the max level nerf to kick in and then start their progression, the effect would be the same but require much less time.
Back in BC you knew the goal, few reach the very end but at least the goal was there to work towards, and as long as you're not feeling entitled to "see all content" just because you pay but instead decide to put in the time and effort needed to reach it, the game offered a much more rewarding experience.