I started playing just after the implementation of the last patch. (Mid January 2011)
The main reason I like CRPG is the fact that every one seems to be on equal ground; Heirlooms don't change the game in a big way.
When you hit lvl 30 (taught to be the soft cap), you are plenty capable of dealing any kind of damage and are mostly on equal ground with every one.
I agree that my first generation was LOONG as Hell. But i guess that's just part of the game. Think of it as an initiation process.
And after a whole generation (to lvl 31) you know your game and how to play it. I think he gap from 30-31 should be the part you enjoy the most. Not a LoNg painful grind.
It should be during that time that you're the most useful to your team and get high multipliers the most.
You don't need to retire, you don't even get much out of retiring. (Heirlooming a weapon and 10% xp)
One thing i agree upon is that Higher generation players who could retire once a week pre-patch have a big advantage.
One of my friend is Gen 31, getting 4k per tick at x1. Even pre-patch, allot of players chose not to retire at all.
These players have been playing a long time and have contributed to the advancement of this mod.
In my opinion, they earned that kind of advantage. (Although I must say i'm quite jealous)
Yesterday, i turned generation 5. I have 280 hours of playtime, that is counting all the time i've spent waiting in the menu screen (AFK, on the phone, or on TeamSpeak3).
I must say that i play allot, probably to much. But what keeps me going is the dream of Strategus, and the community (especially my clanmates).
To sum it up, levelling from level 30 to 31 ain't so bad.
Anyways, my 2 cents.