TBF, at this point I PvP to get only two things: 2k rating to buy elite gear ensemble, certain prestige levels, because some PvP skins/tints look cool (prot pala, frost/blood dk). I don't care about anything else anymore T_T
PvP in WoW suffers from being a side activity, which it is, characters' toolkits are designed w/ PvE in mind, no one is going to create a cool ability and then scrap it because it might be OP in PvP, it'll be added, but nerfed via templates, PvP only abilities are kinda cool, some are so cool that I wouldn't mind having them in my PvE life, e.g., it'd be nice to have BDK's Death Chains in M+, but they are few
Pruning also happens cuz of PvE.
As for rated PvP, welp, I think it's no longer popular for a few reasons:
- There's proper PvP-oriented games w/ booming Pro scenes now, I mean, if one has necessary skills, then why even waste time being a WoW PvPer w/ no future? One can be a successful MOBA, FPS or CCG (Hearthstone) streamer or a pro-gamer or both instead?
- MOBAs spoiled many people, MOBAs rarely have any character power progression outside the match, and it helps to balance the game A LOT. But WoW is an MMORPG, it's not a MOBA, character power/gear progression is essential for this genre, but many PvPers don't enjoy or even hate it, some even call it unnecessary RPG shit, people want MOBA experience: maxed out artefacts, BiS gear, all PvP talents w/o any need to farm Prestige 1. But it's not gonna happen, and it shouldn't, if it happens, what's next? BiS gear for people who do only pet battles? BiS gear for raiders who only want to log in and raid?
And lastly, although I PvP quite a lot, obv casually, I have to say that WoW Arena as an eSport is meh, from spectators PoV it's quite underwhelming, there's nothing interesting in watching someone being chain CC'd and getting rekt, watching long matches w/ excessive pillar humping is quite annoying too...