Why not work on alts in the meanwhile? I mean that is what Cataclysm really is - a chance for almost everything old to be new again.

I think people keeps overlooking this. Yeah, if you're only interested in maintaining your top level characters, then this isn't the expansion for you. I quickly realized that a few months ago with my own 85s. I stopped for a while (easily at that). I didn't fade out, I just plain decided the game wasn't grabbing me anymore and that it was time for me to step away and I cancelled my subscription. Then last month (I blame Blizzard's e-mail telling me I could come back for 7 free days) I decided to start up again and I've actually been having fun again by doing different things with all my inexperienced characters. And now I'm even gearing up my 85s again, too.

I'll admit my subscription is more off and on than ever before, though, and I might even cancel it again next month (as things are going to become more busy for me shortly here in real life) but that might be for the best. I like taking breaks and recharging my batteries.

But the next expansion should deliver better than Cataclysm if only because they'll be fully focusing on the future again, not the past. I'm looking forward to it.