I agree with the OP. What I struggle to understand is the resistance to some of these alternative ideas from the player base. Hypothetically, what if there was a currency conversion from motes to EL thus allowing the casual player a path to 34. Why would the hardcore players care? You'll still beat me in PvP and have higher PvE kill ratios. If I chose this route to max level, that does not detract from the skill shown by the hardcore player who did it through great play in PoE 35 multiple times. All I can think of, is that it has something to do with status. I'm a very average player, I barely hold my own in 28 PoE and I respect the skill shown by the hardcore players whenever I play with them. If I, as a casual player, had a path to max level, I would still respect the hardcore gamers achievements. The problem might be though, how would you know who's hardcore and who isn't. At the moment you can pretty much tell, but allowing the casual player a path would remove this distinction. Perhaps that is the problem for some. In the end it's a game and I for one would like the possibility to experience all the content that I want in a way that I choose to play. It's not a zero sum game. Just because somebody else is given an easier path (from your perspective) doesn't mean your achievements are less respected. I don't want to be given something for free, I'm happy to work for it. Accumulating motes, for example, would still be hard for me because I don't really play much. But it's a way I can play in shorter bursts of time. Cheers.