Me too. I would feel vaguely like I'm frequenting a casino when I log in. Sure I'm not spending money to play, but there is still a random chance for me to hit a jack pot. I'm not going to walk around with a $50 virtual staff either. I don't think I would be able to resist selling all the rare drops I got instead of using them in the game.

You do realize that the Real Money AH is entirely optional, right? If you don't want to use it, don't use it. Skipping Diablo 3 because of it will only deprive yourself of an awesome game.

@Arturis

And do you not understand that this could lead to the cash based auction house being the only source of getting quality, competitive gear? So many people are posting narrow minded, oblivious views on this.

Arturis, you do realize that the simple existence of a "normal Auction House" and a "MAKE REAL MONEY HERE! Auction House" in the same spot, is going to lean towards one side dramatically? On top of them revealing that crafting in Diablo 3 will be utterly useless, this has served to kill any interest in the game.

But I say oh well. Why? Torchlight 2 is still coming.

@ don the gold AH will never become the only source of quality and competitive gear, you'll always be able to get that from drops or crafting.

and if blizz makes it so you can't get good gear from drops crafting there will be nothing to post on the gold AH.

@Arturis

"Optional" it is, sure.
That is still why I wont be buying diablo 3.
I'm not buying the game or supporting this because I dont believe in cash-shops and other stuff like this specially when you pay for the game (the box, playing is free).

I'm surprised people say that free to play games are bad and horrible because of cash shops where you spend real money for "advantage" like.. xp bonuses.
But when this happens its not "slippery slope", not many seems against it, even when they were saying that "pft they have said numerous times they wont be selling advantages". Now you might say: "But players get the money blizzard isnt selling them". Basically they are selling the items - they are just called deposit fees and AH cuts.

Ok, heres something to think about:
Here's EXTREME example due made up numbers but can be accurate on big scale.

Player A puts 100 dollars to wallet. Blizzard doesnt lose anything since blizzard doesnt actually give you 100 real dollars in exchange, they dial up virtual currency, called dollar, numbers up. Since this is at "battle.net" wallet as they said you cant get them back later. Blizzard has now gained 100 dollars profit.

Player B puts 40 dollars worth of items to AH after being in dungeon, 4 dollar each so 10 items total. Each item costs 0.50 dollar to deposit - made up fee from blizzard, theres no 50 cent "transfer fees" or "handling costs" in AH.
Player B has to pay 5 dollars to blizzard to be able to do this.
-Blizzard has now 105 dollars profit so far.

Player A now buys all those items from AH that happened to be sold by Player B.
Blizzard takes cut on each item, 1 dollar from each 4 dollar item. Blizzard doesnt get this 1 dollar yet - its just made up cut to make them pay less, theres no 1 dollar item "handling cost" or "transfer cost" to them.

*Player A - Losses: 40 dollars for items. Total Profit: 10 virtual items.
*Player B - Losses: 5 dollars deposit, 10 dollars from cut. Total Profit if cashed out: 25 dollars (possibly 1+ dollar less if "3rd party" takes its cut)
*Blizzard - Losses: 0 dollars. Profit: 15 dollars because they pay 15 dollars less to player B but got that 40 dollars from A begin with.

This for 10 items from one player in one day. Player A will still be using the rest 60 virtual dollars so thats another profit there. 15 dollars from someone elses farming virtual items.
Pretty clever from blizzard, I have to say and raise my hat for this.
I still dont approve it but I have to say its pretty clever.


Again I repeat - MADE UP numbers to make my point BUT it is possible that cuts and deposit fees are that much from that amount of items.