The mounts are only as impressive as the knowledge of the person looking at it. If someone who's never played the game before looks at a Time-Lost Proto Drake and a sees a Twilight Drake next to it, they'll probably feel the Proto-Drake is more impressive - even though the more experienced players know full well that particular Proto-Drake is based on ridiculous luck and the Twilight Drake is much more of an accomplishment game-wise.

In the end, the mounts you accrue are for yourself and for yourself only. Who cares if someone hates you or resents you for your luck, raiding skill, RNG dice, or eBay finesse. Just keep ridin' and lookin' sexy. =)

Isn't this entire article redundant? If you own a spectral tiger you bought it end of story. You either bought one card for a guaranteed tiger or 100s until you got it. Either way you payed for the mount. The only thing you have accomplished is spending money. Granted in the latter method you can now also play a card game with the left over cards.

Just to make it clear I don't have any problem with anyone buying anything in this game. If you have the cash you can do with it what you want. I would buy "The Flag of Ownership" in a heart beat if I could justify the cost.

I invariably assume they bought theirs off of ebay. Am I a jerk?

Honestly my first thought when I see a ST is that the rider spent $800-1000 on ebay for it and may want to reconsider their financial priorities, but in the end it's their money.

I don't see it as an accomplishment at all. No skill or effort is required to plunk down a credit card on ebay or get lucky with a pack of cards.

But I also don't resent or thing less of them in any way. They enjoy the game one way, I enjoy it another.

I had a GF that was all about the rare pets and mounts and has been known to hang out in IF just showing them off. I'm an achiver so usually when I get a new thing, I mark it off my virtual goals list and move on to the next challange. Don't get me wrong I display my "of the Nightfall" title and ride my 310 mount, but these are mainly done because the title shows what my guild can do and the mount moves faster.

As long as someone isn't a jerk about it I don't fault anyone for what ever good fortune they have.

Wow, I thought I was the only one who doesn't really like the looks of this mount. I guess the transparent thing really wows some people, but to me, it's just...meh. Can't really dredge up any envy when I see one of these run by.

Now, the Swift Zulian Tiger...THAT'S the real beauty. :) I'll envy anyone sitting on one of those 'til the day I get my own. And I swear I. Am. Going. To. Get. My. Own. so help me god.