I just don't get what is different. The trading card pets/mounts/etc have always been really cool (spectral tiger anyone?), Collector's Edition minipets have always been awesome, and even the mount you got for recruiting a friend was pretty awesome in my opinion (I want that zhevra so bad I'm almost willing to pay for a second account for 3 months just to get it)... There have always been things that people could spend money on and get in game. I don't see why there's this huge problem all of a sudden with Blizzard cutting out the middleman. You could say "Well you were always getting something *else* before (trading cards, extra account, collectors edition stuff), but with the amount this stuff sells for on ebay.. do you really think people care about that stuff?

Have you seen the stuff for patch 3.3? They are consistently getting better. Look at Arthas' mount- that's easily one of the coolest things in game to date and there's no way that's going to be something we buy. What about the gladiator Frost Wyrms? You really think they're going to put something like that in the store? I don't.

And you know what? I applaud this- It drives me BUGGY when there is a mount/pet/etc I can't get because it's for something exclusive like attending Blizzcon or the world invitational or something similar that I have absolutely no hope of ever doing (or a desire to in some cases). I LIKE being able to just go to the blizz store and buy one of these pets- even though neither one really appeals to me at this point as something I want. And for anyone who is upset and says they want the pet but can't afford it- They don't look like they're going anywhere anytime soon and if you can afford $15 a month to play WoW, I'm sure you can find a way to save up $10. Or ask for a Christmas present. Whatever.

Everyone is going on and on about how this is a slippery slope and next thing you know Blizzard will be selling epics and gear. No. They won't. They have been "selling" vanity items for YEARS. This is not really that big of a surprise for me. Faction Change and Race Change, those are bigger in my opinion- but I still am in favor of them. It doesn't really change anything. The changes are for the most part purely cosmetic even in those cases- sure you could say that they'll get different racials but truly, do those racial abilities really change things that much? No.

Anyway, if for some reason Blizz ever does start selling epics, that is the day that I'll cancel my account. But I don't see it happening, so I'm not making plans for the "End of Days" yet.