I think it really depends on the player - I tried leveling a Paladin as both Ret and Prot... Neither works for me. IMO, both of those specs are simply horrible for leveling, but as Holy it's a walk in the park for my play style.

What you're saying there about the point of the leveling process, I agree with, and I feel the boosts they have made to leveling speed leads to more 'noobs' at 70. I leveled most of my characters pre-2.0, and yes, the speed of leveling was agonizing at times, but it was a rite of passage.

Making it through to 60 really meant something, not many people had more than one 60 back then. Now? I have 6 level 70's and 5 more characters between 55-65. Am I expected to be 'pro' at all of the classes I have at 70? I sure hope not, as some of them I'm not really that great at. The same has happened to others as well. They know the basics of the class, but they really don't excel at it. Previously, we had all the time in the world to devote to our precious level 60.

There is also a downside to the increase in leveling speed. Just the other day in a wowinsider post, they were discussing how by the time you get ready to do an instance (pre-BC), you've out-leveled the place, and many people never get to see the old instances their first time through the game. Blizzard has also removed almost all group quests pre-BC, which in addition to few people going to old instances, means many players seldom, and sometimes never, group up with others. This leads to people who don't know their role(s) in parties, and bad PuGs in Outlands.

This isn't a universal thing. Some players can pick up WoW for the first time and be pro from day one, and that's fine, but it doesn't generally occur.

As for "after you have a 70", I feel that what -should- have happened is either no experience/leveling speed buffs OR that only players who have gotten to 70 at least once got the buff. First time players should have to suffer through a longer leveling process to get to know their class.

I'm also of the school of thought which feels there needs to be 'attunements' for leveling (UNrealistic example: To gain experience beyond level 20, you must successfully defeat VanCleef in Deadmines). Something, anything, to get players to group and overcome challenges to progress through the game, aside from simple grinding/solo questing. It's an MMO for a reason.

In your second paragraph, were you saying that talent specs should be more permanent? I like the idea, except for the fact that many first-time players might "mess up", like the people who thought you're supposed to fill up every box in all three trees, until someone corrects them at level 46... It would definitely allow players more time to become accustomed to their specs, and likely better once they hit the end-game.

As for the others who want to start at a higher level? I just don't think it should happen. A level 40/50/60/70 with no/white armor, and no gold of its own, no professions... A character should be able to get by without support from alts, and it doesn't sound like fun to have to start your character at level 50 and have to go back to Elwynn/Tirisfal/etc to farm Peaceblooms/Copper and skill up from there for hours/days/weeks (depending on your ability to skill up professions) in order to get to your starting level's skill range. Sure you could just proceed to go to level 70/80 and then go back, but leveling professions, for many, is much easier if done while leveling the character (enchanting, anyone?)