"and when the player delivers, they get their reward. simple as that. because player Z doesn't feel like devoting the time, attention, and skill necessary to overcome the greater challenge they cannot claim a right to the better reward! it's illogical and absurd! "

You've missed my point by a mile there Matt. I don't recognise "effort" or "work" in relation to WoW because it's purely entertainment. There is no practical outcome from it except for fun. It is purely a leisure activity, when you put extra time into it you are spending more time enjoying yourself than the next guy. Now tell me what part of the real world will give you more for engaging in a purely non-practical leisure activity?

My point was that the player engaging in the difficult content does it because he *enjoys* it, and he doesn't enjoy the easier content. It's not the real world of work or competitive sports, it's not done to earn money or prestige, it's done purely for fun and nothing else. So again, why should one form of enjoying yourself be "rewarded" over and above other forms? Why should there be any incentive for doing something impractical other than the enjoyment of doing it?

Everyone who pays the sub should have a path to enjoy themselves, whether it's by challenging themselves or just coasting along. Neither should be "rewarded" over the other because they're both done for the sole reason of personal enjoyment. If you wouldn't stand for an R/C enthusiast pushing in front of you at the electronics store because he spent the weekend doing something complicated while you watched the telly, why on earth would you argue for the same thing in a game?