What better way to get rid of the competition (plat-sellers) than to become one and force them out of business?
Of course this is just a way for SOE to get their hands on part of the "$200 million a year" industry. They are also justifying it by saying that "40% of customer service is devoted to this kind of problem", and by embracing it, they assume they will save that 40% in customer service hours. Not true, as those problems will be replaced by others.
- Is it fair for someone to buy an uber-level and go straight to the raid content?
Not really, but who determined that the raid content is the "ultimate" goal in EQ2?
- Is it fair that you worked so hard to get to where you are, and in walks uber_ebay_01, still with the plastic wrap?
Not really, but remember they have no clue what content there is from level 1 to 50. You do, and that what makes you who you are.
I never agreed with the plat-sellers and hoped they would not do business. Yet to those that buy the uber-gear, I do not feel anger, just pity.
This game is not designed to have an ultimate end. It is designed to explore, quest, interact, solve, etc. Buying gear will rob someone of the experience of questing and fighting for it. So that gear will become disposable, cheap, worthless.
If someone joins my group with uber gear, I don't really care. The true test will be if they know how to use it, and if they know how to play. If they are a knucklehead, they will get a few polite /tells. If they persist, they will get booted. A noob that shows up on his first day with uber gear will be pretty easy to spot.
Keep in mind that we all participate in a form of SE ourselves. We buy gear from the broker which is buying from other players. Even though it is all virtual items with virtual coin, the premise is the same. You spend time and effort to get virtual cash. Don't you also spend time and effort to get real cash? You place value on both, you a frugal with both, you care about both.
I also know full well that EQ2 is a GAME and everything can go away without impacting your life. Easy for you to give up the game by giving all you have to a stranger. Not so with your real cash. I don't think any of us would do the same with our real life possesions. (Unless you are, then send me an email :) )
If EQ2 was a game that had an "end", and someone's goal was to go beat the last boss to get the "You Win" screen, they could and would do that. Then they will blink in surprise trying to think of what there is to do next. And there will be nothing for them to do except what we all have done...
That is, start from the beginning, explore, quest, craft, fight, die, win. That is what makes the game worth playing.
But if they only care about the end-game, then that is all they will want. There life in the game will short lived, as they will run out of things to do.
The only long-term life will be on PvP servers. Don't we all just love a 13-year old kid, with a freshly bought uber_50_Zerker_01, corpse camping? Yea, go have fun with that.
I joined EQ2 not for the end-game, but for everything in-between. And after several years of playing, I will fondly remember many adventures, many friends, many places, all from the beginning.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
- - Robert Frost