Maybe MMOs aren't for me.

Yes, good idea. Then we could upgrade our spacecraft parts - something like green parts, then better blue parts and then really good purple parts. Finally, we could really imbalance space combat by adding a stat that would reduce damage taken from enemy ships whilst increasing damage you do to enemy ships. I'm on a roll here. If you grind out 1000+ pvp spaceship missions you get a really cool spaceship that has one enormous gun that vaporises other player spaceships who haven't completed the 1000+ spaceship missions - in one shot! How cool would that be? Oops, that sounds a bit like every pvp warzone out there, and no doubt I've now blown the great secret that the devs had for space combat. Sorry OP, I jest. This game would benefit from actually embracing the rich space theme with some original thinking as opposed to simply copying the status quo. Mind you, isn't familiarity with the same old mechanic what people seem to want? Either way, it would still be lacking in any kind of imagination. Graphics might be nice though.

The concept of p2w is fundamentally flawed. How does one win a mmo? The real question is: Will swtor consider that powergamers are not comfortable with casuals buying their way to high-end pvp and ops? At least be a man and ask the real quesion, OP! Trust me, those who can buy their way to the top in video games value little in high end content. It provides illumination, nothing more.

Ok, quite a few issues to deal with here but to start with; you are a minority demographic. No business will ever launch with you in mind as the typical consumer. Time to slow down on those energy drinks, open the blinds and see what the rest of us are up to; and your time to cost ratio is, quite frankly, a steal.

Reading the negative feedback guided towards the OP is hilarious. You who reply in the negative take the time to reply on the forum but yet you propose to compound your dislike? Anyone for paradox? Methinks you doth protest too much. And please, (for all you whinging real life avoiders) don't for one minute think that by complaining, EA will stop to read and consider your point of view. I think your MBA obtained from your last 'lucky dip' or Christmas cracker will have expired. Roll on "I'm a webmaster/tech/SEO expert" replies - you know how to fix computers, not to sell. For time vs cost, you will be lucky to replicate the value this game (or any other MMORPG) has to offer anywhere else, unless of course, you love advertising. Finally and to the OP, discount 95% of replies to your post, as they are not objective. They are from the type of person who lives to deride without providing any forward thinking or vision for progress, because they cannot. If you like this game then stick with it. Ignore the masses and progress.

OP here, back from the dead! Interesting, very interesting. I think that I may have underestimated how seriously many people take the game. Personally, I cannot see how one can realistically compare the sense of achievement of competing at the Olympics or winning the Super Bowl with grinding gear in this game. That is extrapolation in the extreme. For me, it's just a game and nothing more. If you do well (however you classify that), then well done, but let's keep things in context. Perhaps the issue is the perceived inequality that my view presents. But don't panic! It's just a view. However, I still haven't read a convincing reason why players should not be allowed to buy gear (barring of course the fact that it is not allowed as the current game rules stand). Lots of sweeping statements, yes, but no causal link between how I may like to play and the direct dimunition of others' enjoyment. I could understand the position better, if for example paying money would entitle you to medical care at another's expense, but not in the context of a video game. For the avoidance of doubt and as a couple of replies suggest, I am not interested in acquiring gear to show off by hanging around parts of the space station. At the risk of sounding disingenuous, I think at that point I would need to re-examine my whole life from scratch.

Ok, so the general feedback is that buying gear does not seem to be a popular idea. I'm not trolling as some of the comments suggested, merely stimulating debate by expressing a point of view. This is what breeds progression. Interesting to note from your posts that all that seems to await me is repetition of content, which basically means that buying gear might just be a waste of time at any rate. Thanks in particular to 'fptackle' for the words of wisdom that make sense to me. I'm generally surprised at the lack of capitalists in the community! Now, what was that other game called? Ah yes, I believe Sim CIty awaits me....

I've bought the game and paid for my subs, just as the rest of you have. I now find that this game (like many other mmorpgs) all but locks you out of the high end content unless you have silly amounts of time to spend getting the ridiculous gear that imbalances pretty much everything. In these games gear is everything, with perhaps a little sprinkling of co-ordination of one's keyboard fingers. I work hard and have young kids, meaning that I'm lucky to get on once or twice each week. There is no chance of me getting my pvp kit to play at a fair level or join operations. I have one 50th level character. At the exponential rate of gear-upping (if that term should exist), I will simply never be able to take part in aspects of the game I already pay for. So why can't I just pay Bioware, or EA or whoever money to furnish my character with the required gear? I have some money but little time. The usual argument against this is for players to be rewarded for the time they put into the game. They already do and I have no problem with that - the usual rewards through the usual channels will always be there. But for the remainder like me, why not let us purchase what we need to at least participate in the end game stuff? The players that spend time will still be rewarded by having heavier wallets! I know many will be against buying your way to gear (and eventual success?), but it's the same in real life. For example, if I wash my clothes I don't first mine minerals, refine them and then design and construct a washing machine. I go and buy one as I do not possess the technical know-how or have the time to do otherwise. Why is this game any different? Money exists to allow people to acquire goods and services that you do not know how to provide and/or have the time to provide. Also, selling gear through official channels would stamp out (or at least impact) the farmers you can look up on any internet search. The market is there, just no one wants to admit it. As I understand it, the game is for fun and, in my eyes, not another set of burning hoops that I need to jump through to get my money's worth through my subs. Let me just buy my gear!

I'm not sure what you're worried about. The pvp system has never been about rewards bar for pvp warzones. The whole concept is not to reward skill. It is to reward grind. Pvp does not pit the skill of one player against another - it pits the gear of one player against another, and I would at this point contend that my submission is with regard to level 50 (up until this point pvp is rather fun). If it was a matter of skill, why we would we have a little thing called 'Expertise'? Don't be upset with this post if at this point the reader should still think that they display brilliance at pvp, when clearly they have displayed a most herd like, grind mentality to overcome opponents whilst relying on gear. I'm sure you avid pvp players will argue that endless grind should provide a reward. After all, you need something to feel good about having missed out on the world beyond your HD monitor. However, such warzone bonuses should be resrticted to warzones, where you can bare-knuckle box each other to death in seemingly limitless repetition. Open world pvp is a brilliant idea and I support the op with his or her suggestions, but to merely import 'Experise' grinders to an open world pvp system is a waste of time. One might as well wonder around Tatooine with a level 50 character looking to eliminate 'puny' level 25s and then receive rewards. Unfortunately, unless the devs have provided (or will provide) some original thinking, I would imagine an open world pvp system would merely copy a certain other mmorpg, albeit with less cleavage on show. Pity.

Ohhh, it's sooo gear specific. All MMOs are. Green then blue etc. Seen that before anywhere? Oh yes, all of them. Don't expect to solo your way to 50 then get involved in pvp. Skill is for nothing when top gear can add circa 10k to your health and provide divine intervention to your dps. MMOs reward grind. Race to 50 then collect tokens, badges, emblems and plaques or whatever. Otherwise you poor souls leave and play something else. There is no skill, only gear. Remember the dev vids where they argued about which class would come out on top in a duel? What a laugh. Forget that and only ask who has all the purple gear instead. Holo dancer with gear v Jedi with solo quest rewards. My money is on the dancer. Wow (sorry for the pun)! That's not very Star Wars is it? But it's very MMO. My new MMO will be out soon. You all play small mice who navigate an endless array of confusing passageways. Your reward is a piece of cheese that gets bigger every time you manage to find your way out. Trust me, you'll feel great when you first achieve your first piece of purple Edam gear. So, Mice in mazes anyone? P.S. I otherwise really like the original features of the game.

Seriously? Ok then, whilst you're in the zone for drivel: I don't like the colour blue anymore. Sure, I like some of the darker shades, but as a colour I think I'll leave blue behind. I like red and green better. Yellow is ok. I don't think I'll miss blue once it's gone. I'm not saying blue isn't for everyone, it's just not for me. I preferred blue in WoW but I don't think they've reproduced it well in swtor which kind of annoys me. I have seen blue in many, many mmos and have been known to use it well during my elite and memorable performances in raid groups. I often had many pms during raids admiring my use of blue and as reflected on the many raid meters. I'll never buy a blue car, but I might buy a black one as I think that would look cool. I accept that I'll no longer be entirely visible in the light spectrum once I leave blue, but I thought the community would be interested to know this. Fair to say my post is absolutely no use to anyone, but I feel better getting my opinions off my chest.