I wasn't planning on it, but I secretly wanted to, and Jenny browbeat my resistance to nothing. So back to Azeroth I go.

I'm looking forward to it; I love playing WoW, I'm just not a fan of how much of a time sink it is, and how, afterwards, it feels like it was a waste of time compared to almost anything else I could have been doing.

For many players, MMOs are about making them feel like they are progressing. In that light, grind is the idea that, despite all that effort you put into progressing, the place you progress to is the same as the place you progressed from. In other words, the experience needs to change as you level up and gain new abilities; they need to do more than make your numbers go up, they need to actually change something about the way you play. Which is why I find end-game, and, previously so much of the middle-game to feel like a grindfest, and why I'm open to the idea of revisiting the leveling experience if it's really faster and fresher than it used to be.

We shall see.

I am a tad bit worried about the easy-mode nature of WoW these days. I understand why they do it, but I'd hate to see the experience castrated by lack of difficulty or challenge - and the accompanying sense of accomplishment and effort! - in the name of casual players. On the other hand, I know that my standards there were always on the easier side compared to yours, Matt, so once again I'll see for myself soon.