I started just after Ykesha came out, so I technically never played "Classic". Even so, it was still a lot harder than any MMO I've played since. My start time is probably why I hate Luclin so much, though... Soooo much time spent in PC.
A couple of games came close to post-PoP EQ at the beginning, but got knocked down real fast... EQ2 and Vanguard had group content in the newbie zones & more difficult travel at launch, and Commonlands/Antonica had more group content than solo content... now it's all solo & all fast travel. (Well, Vanguard was until it closed down.) The last expansion I played in EQ2 (Odus), I soloed to cap, never grouped except in instances, and could tank most of those instances on a frickin rogue (Ratonga Swashbuckler).
Other MMOs never even tried to be difficult... WoW, MxO, SWG, SWtOR, LotRO (even though I have a lifetime sub I never play anymore), they all started easy and stayed easy.
Project 1999? I have my fair share of "d'oh" moments (especially in forgetting to re-mem spells after death), but I'm lovin' it.
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