Would I be incorrect in at least finding some valid points in assuming that the "dumbing down" of WoW has more to do with the stead subscription loss cycles than not?
Now, I'm not talking about "difficulty" here when I speak of dumbing down. I'm actually talking about the core of the game. I understand and agree that the old Tree/talent system was clunky, annoying, obnoxious, and even bad at times. However, I also feel that it did provide a different feeling to the experience as well as a quick "red flag" warning to other players if your talents were all jacked up.
For myself, I no longer feel much of a difference between the classes. I'm sure you or someone else might though. I've never been 100% invested in a single character and always considered my self an "altoholic" from the start. However, up until the end of Wrath, I felt a difference between tanking on my Warrior, my Dk, my Druid, or my Paladin. These days, the only difference I feel or see is that 3 out of the 5 tanking classes have a much less difficult time holding aggro in an ilvl disparaging group.
While I do commend Blizzard for trying, risk or otherwise, to clean up and constantly evolve the game and not feign that they "got it right at the start", I can't help but feel that they've been riding that bus over a cliff.
My favorite part of WoW used to be helping lowbies. Running dungeons for them was something that called back fond memories of Diablo days. However, in the pursuit of making everything "more accessible" they've also removed most of the connection between "Start" and "Finish" other than "Just get it the fuck done."
I've heard many times that the game doesn't start till 90 (or whatever max level happens to be) and I used to argue against the mindset. These days, I sort of see the point. To me, the narrow differences between the classes at max level and repetitive content (rather than 'new' ) causes players to look in other directions. Meanwhile, the lack of engagement of the game or social connection, value, or worth, of a new players between 1 and max level, seems to prevent too many new people from joining too.
This isn't me saying "WOW IS DYING" because it we all know that it is... it has been since launch, every game dies. I'm simply trying my best to put a fair finger on things where lack of enthusiasm really happens to be lacking.
Anyone else feel this has some merit?