what I liked about the OP:
pretty much all you said.
except:
The game is very slow at the moment, and you need a lot of hits to kill somebody.
I ... am not sure if serious, but I disagree. I think the games speed didn't really get slower, big weapons still behave like chopsticks, some others are too fast to even notice (katana/wakizashi, but maybe that's just me), spamming remains a viable tactic after all, and feinting is the new spamming, especially with Greatswords. but certainly, people are more skilled on average. maybe that's why it seems to be slower: some players get more considerate, because the other guy might be a skilled blocker. I might add a question: do we want faster gameplay, or do we want more exciting fights? fast and exciting are not the same thing.
raising the level cap is an option, but only if the game mechanics get improved to a point where speed and strength are not the only parameters for winning.
also, "a lot of hits to kill somebody" is exaggerating. I roll with 7IF and 49 armor, and I still die from 4 hits sometimes, which isn't that many. but here, what you said about armor is exactly what I think too.
hehe! I like how your texts get shorter and shorter every time
I really feel the same pressure for my essays too. it's this voice in my head: "no-one will ever read this!"