Is this really a post about someone not understanding how to use the GTN? Because it sure in hell sounds like it.

F2P's of this game are going to have a high turnover rate anyway. We're getting back the people who quit the game months ago, if not just soon after launch, who were okay with paying the subscription beforehand but not now. Current subscribers are typically looking forward to or actively participating in raids/PVP with Cartel Packs being either bought with monthly coin stipends or off the GTN because we have coins to burn from daily grinds. While a good number of active subscribers are also buying packs out of pocket, I can say from experience of myself and other guild mates, that a lot of them are either buying items off the market individually and/or using credits for the gamble boxes. Comments aren't meant to snub the OP, but throwing in about spending $100 of dollars on packs sounds both snobby and unnecessary since that's not the only way to acquire them.

While I agree with reskins of the same armor being a bad idea, complaining how much money you've spent on cartel packs, which in truth are a gamble at best, isn't a good way to solve the issue. They are viciously unfair, to be sure, but that's why you do your daily grind and buy them off the auction house instead of spending real money if you don't believe that luck is on your side. While someone in my guild has gotten at least 5+ white crystals, I haven't gotten a one. Unfair? Probably, but who keeps putting money into a 'broken' slot machine? That's your own damn fault.

Optional content is never a bad though. You can either do it or don't. Even though you may not personally like it doesn't mean that it shouldn't be added for those who are looking for alternative ways to get bonus items, vanity sets, and gear outside of what the current end-game offers. We have a lot of causal players in this game who don't heavily participate in neither raiding nor PVP , who are then also crying about not having anything to do at level 50. If this gives them something to occupy themselves with, more power to it. Even those who do raid and PVP should be interested in acquiring vanity gear such as armor/pets/mounts while doing more dailies that give out bonus credits. It's sort of a win/win situation here. We get more content while giving people so vocal about being bored something else to do other than complaining. Of course, they'll complain anyway because...well, because they can, but at least we can point a finger and say, "Go do that instead."

Even having a large guild, we all have scattered alts at different levels and combinations of classes that rarely line up outside of being 50. It's either a 'run me through this' request or 'Let's do a HM' after reaching max level. People who are so opposed to this claiming it will kill community really should look at it from another point of view. A group finder actually tosses you into the mix of people from the community in ways that most people normally wouldn't get otherwise. I'm the type to solo my storyline, so I only talk to people on the field. Chat usually consist of playing chatting for fun or people asking for help. People who know what they are doing are usually talking in guild chat/on voice chat and ignoring text chat/or just minding their own business. I always looked at a group finder tool for actually putting people together as a good thing. Wouldn't talk to nearly as many different people otherwise.

Flashpoints should be the priority. Let's be honest here, standing around on the fleet pimping yourself out in trade/general chat isn't very effective all for the sake of 'community'. It's a waste to those who are actually doing quests to have to stop what they are doing in order to go stand around and spam LFG for who knows how long, trying to find the right combination of people. Pushing on my 3rd 50 now and I stopped bothering with leveling Flashpoints. I wait to use my guild to do HM's after 50. It seems like a waste to have people ignore the Flashpoints due to the hassle of just trying to get people at the right level to go. Personal note, I don't have a problem with Cross-Server groups. I don't see how it 'kills' community at all. Spending some time with other players, despite the server, should be a good thing. Right?