[Mardur]

Definitely progress.

When you're playing, you usually don't have time to type. In a high intensity situation, taking the time to communicate via text makes you less effective. This goes especially for heavy-duty classes like bard or shaman, and on PvP servers.

Secondly, it's easier to form personable relationships with in-game friends when you can talk via voice. Text communication is kind of cold and archaic.

It makes you a better gamer and I personally have more fun shooting the shit with online friends. The only downside is that you may one day find yourself in the same Ventrilo as Goobles or Hasbinbad.

Anyone who thinks it's bad are just nostalgia LARP nerds. These are probably the same guys who are in that Youtube thunder bolt video.