I'm not sure the awakening has to be quite so rude, though. That's why the game feels like it slows to a crawl in levelling as soon as you reach level 80 (or 85); levelling is so quick earlier on, then really slows down as you approach the summit. I'd honestly much rather that felt much more fluid than it currently does, and it's impossible for a new player not to notice it and wonder what on earth is going on.