[Riotgirl]

For me it was just a few months before PoP. Did not buy SoL because I had no need: classic offered so much content that the game didn't need more mid-level content.

AAs offered something a ill' different to customise characters, although this was the beginning of old world mobs becoming trivial to Mana-burning Wizards. I didn't like loot trivialisation because a lot of SoL vendor trash made a lot of old world loot simply trash.

I also didn't like the desolation of EC (although I understand the appeal of the bazaar), and hated Spires for fast travel. A large swathe of random encounters disappeared with fast travel.

I did like the UI and global and private chat channels.

I disliked SoL because I joined April 2001, and had just over 6 months of classic. I also had to upgrade my Banshee Voodoo 2 video card! At least many years later, I have a second chance to do all of the things that I didn't do 2nd time around.