While the sprockets themselves really aren't all that big of a deal, this is yet another slap in the face to the playerbase. Anyone who has bought previous mining picks from the gemstore are getting screwed over because this new pick has a chance of giving you additional mats every time you use it, whereas the older ones don't. The blatant money grabbing is getting pretty ridiculous. It's like,"Oh hey! I appreciate that you've spent money on something already, but here's something even better than that, so spend even more money now and make us rich!"A recent breakthrough in mining technology has let us make a new infinite mining pick. This self-repairing pick has a chance to add a Watchwork Sprocket to the rewards when used to mine ore veins!
Seriously, when are people going to wake up and realize Anet doesn't give two shits about them, except for their money and willingness to buy gems? It's pathetic really. The only other devs that are more greedy than Anet at this point are the ones over at SWTOR with how their F2P restrictions are and how their CC market works.
What's next? Releasing another mining pick in 6 months that gives a chance of receiving an ectoplasm every time you mine a node? Seriously, when will the stupidity and money grabbing stop? They need to focus on their fail development and upkeep of this game instead of how to make a quick buck off of an already irritated playerbase.
Inb4 the white knight crusaders come crashing in to defend Anet on this decision and telling me how I'm overreacting to an obvious attempt at milking a playerbase for all its worth.
Edit:
https://forum-en.guildwars2.com/foru...Watchwork-Pick
Some of the game's biggest fanboys on the official forums are even up in arms about this.