Yes, I agree on the post 30 content. I recall taking 180 hours to hit L-10. I loved the wound system, added a degree of realism. My first night on, took 15-minutes to make it 20 steps and I already had a high end computer from doing the F&F in EQ2 test. At the end of the day it was all the content changes, game size too large and SOE. With Vanguard closing I have had it with SOE and have no interest in EQnext.
The problem today is companies focus on massive size and player population. Vanguard was perfect for 200K old school centric game. I cut my teeth on Kesmai's Mega Wars III, Island of Kesmai and Kingdom of Drakkar (pre-internet) playing on CompuServe at $ 6.35 a hour for 300 bauds and 24.95 at 1200 bauds. I had a business account, so took a tax write off.
IOK was the first post mud graphic game and ran on HR Block main frames. Drakkar was the first 3-d graphic based game and is still around .
http://www.kingdomofdrakkar.com/
Both IOK and Drakkar, lair fights and high end raids had perm death if you lost, this after spending 2-3 thousand dollars to get high level enough to raid. Even a basic critter death meant a whole level loss.