Heh, when I dinged 60 I just had the money for the training, not the mount. So I PvP'd and got the war kodo. Most hard-earned mount so far for me, and I'm at 87 mounts so far including the Ulduar and ICC ones.

This. I personally think the people who don't embrace the changes in mount level requirements probably don't remember what a stinking PAIN IN THE ASS it was (maybe because they had a guild or group of friends backing their actions? Who can really know.) to get an epic mount, or if you were a Paladin/Warlock what a pain it was to have to run all those instances and crap for the quest. Sure, you got "satisfaction" afterward but really, I ended up just angry that I had to do all that crap for something that is kind of a necessity.

Me? I remember hitting OUTLAND and still having no epic mount because I couldn't come up with the gold. Now, these days, I would easily have even enough to train the older, more expensive epic ground mount riding by time I hit level 60, but in those days I was still kind of a noob. I didn't play the auction house very well, and even though I hardly ever bought anything, I was still low on gold.

And now that I'm leveling alts, lets just say that the thought of having to run around on foot for 40 levels (incidentally the entire reason I hate dustwallow marsh and desolace) is not appealing.

I just don't think everything has to be "hard" in a game to be fun. Not everyone plays like that.

And also, re: Paladin/Warlock quests: There is NOTHING stopping you from still completing the quest at level 60. Same with all the other class-specific quests, like the Polymorph: Pig quest. You can still do them. You can wait until you are level 80 and go back and do them, or you can do them at level 60 if you want. You can still have that epic feeling of completing the quest. You just don't *have* to do it. Try to remember, guys, that what you view as an "epic, fun quest line" is probably a "Annoying, horrible, pain-in-the-ass grind" for someone else. Isn't it a good thing to have variety?

I honestly think that those who hate a challenge are not true gamers. People who only play for gear do not generally find enjoyment in anything but the said acquisition of said gear. In today's game gear really has no other purpose but to appease those kinds of people. I think that should change and raiding, heroics etc should be for people who find them rewarding just by their experience alone.

People should only have to do something if they want to, and being forced or bribed is horrible game design in my opinion.

"Sure, you got "satisfaction" afterward but really, I ended up just angry that I had to do all that crap for something that is kind of a necessity."

Last I checked, this wasn't a necessity considering nothing was keeping you from buying racial mounts. This was a status symbol and really nothing more. Only thing I could never figure out was why Locks and Pallies were the only ones to get a "special" mount >.>