Don't try to argue between grind-lovers and grind-haters, they allways said.
Well, if you think the nice thing about cRPG is making your own char with a defined set of skill, attribute points and equipment value, nice for you. If I want to play that way, I prefer returning to Native multiplayer. In Native each faction has 3 classes (except 2 for khergits who aren't played anyway). So we have 5 * 3 = 15 different character builds. On top of that, you can choose your equipment, which will completly change the way you play the game. cRPG offers similar personalisation now. And finally, doing good will allow you to buy better gear over time (on one map) in Native, which isn't true anymore in cRPG.
So in Native we have progression, and in cRPG we have no more.
I know RPG doesn't mean grinding. I play old editions of D&D with friends, I enjoy playing a real RPG. But here we are not playing a real RPG with roleplaying.
Videogames called "RPG" are associated with some kind of progression system. That's not my fault. It's just a common misunderstanding so common that it's now the rule. You'll never play like in a real RPG in a videogame anyway. Especially when it comes to multiplayer and PVP ! With PVP, people try to find "efficient" builds. Many aren't even interested at all in roleplaying.
What my point is, is that RPG means grinding in our context. We are playing what many game magasines would call a "PVP only MMORPG with TPS medieval fighting". Some people actually like grinding. I like grinding, I like playing for the challenge, I like playing just to relax... But I like the games I play for a determined reason not to change their "type". I liked Native for the skill dimension. If cRPG becomes like Native, one of those is useless for me. Me and MANY people (just watch the polls and the so-called "whine" threads that give options to change the system) associated cRPG to a mixed skill-and-grind game, which had a very good balance between those two factors ! No wonder we are dissapointed !
If you personally associated cRPG to an old school RPG, good for you. That's apparently what chadz wanted.