It really is just a matter of enjoying what you can find available until the population starts to decline a bit in the months preceding Kunark. I do agree with OP regarding it being quite crowded right now.
But this is basically the same thing experienced 20 years ago more or less: Available time vs. available content. Yeah the hardcore players will always have more plat and more gear. Does the time required to acquire all of the pixels generally healthy? Well, no.
Call it pay to play, but you pay with your health and sanity.
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