OK, here arfe my issues with the current leveling system.
Throughout this game, from update 1, there have been 4 groups of levels.
UPDATE 1:
Casual gamer: level 30
Dedicated gamer: level 40
Plat buyer: level 50
Elite plat buyer: level 60
UPDATE 2:
Casual gamer: level 70
Dedicated gamer: level 80
Plat buyer: level 90
Elite plat buyer: level 100
UPDATE 3:
Casual gamer: level 130
Dedicated gamer: level 140
Plat buyer: level 150
Elite plat buyer: level 160
UPDATE 4: (Should be)
Casual gamer: level 160
Dedicated gamer: level 170
Plat buyer: level 180
Elite plat buyer: level 190
As it is now, a casual gamer will take approximately 80 hours of fighting time to hit level 160 and that to me is unacceptable!
I have no issues with people that want to spend all their time trying to hit the highs that are possible, but who would want to play for that long just to be of an average level.
And dont forget that without the level 160's about the new bosses simply wont be killed!
Remember, this is just mine and some others opinion.
I'm not a huge fan of just grinding but it has been the main focus of every online game I played. Time spent leveling allows you the ability to group and kill higher level content to get the next best gear item. I think the main problem here is that the options to level 4 times faster is to appealing to most and so it creates a very expensive habit to keep up with the highest level players.
If I could get to the max level in 25 hours I am sure I would have quit this game last summer. Target lock was added to allow mid level players the ability to play at their own level and still have a chance at enjoying the content created for their level. Only time will tell if this will work but I hope it helps a lot of non plat buyers enjoy the games content. Unfortunately MMO games that include character development are time sinks and probably always will be.