If you want to just power your way through to get the best gear, then go do it. Content is for those that want to enjoy a fantasy world.
I don't play RPGs for the items I will get out of them. I play them for the story. The problem comes when the loot is emphasized over the story.
Also, when I was low leveled in EQ, I didn't care about my gear. I didn't care about leveling as fast as possible to 50. I cared about enjoying the game. It was after I got to 50 (then 60, 65) that the loot became the driving force. I already knew so much about the game world that going slowly a 2nd time for my 2nd character was not worth it any longer. For that, I camped the twink loot and leveled as quick as I could.
I want to go back to the way I played EQ originally. Lost in a world, not looking for the best min/max combination of loot I could find to make me more uber
What looks great about WoW is I believe it will cater to both crowds. If your motivation is high end content, and raiding, I have no doubt Blizzard will come through for you. Tigole isn't there to sit on his hands and do nothing. But for me, I'm going to take my time and enjoy the story because I have equal confidence that Blizzard is going to make that part fun and not just a "grind to the real game". If they do it real well, you'll be able to quest your way to the top and actually fully understand why you are killing the dragon in the dungeon (you've been tracking a quest to this point for 50+ levels
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