I really hope that someone, anyone in current dev team reads this forum, because I can't agree more with all of the opinions above. In 7.0, at least on this version of PTS, game is simply not fun. More over, some changed parts really feel like a chore.
First of all - Leveling. Which is alright in term of gained levels, and not that much so in term of getting abilities. Being stuck with so long with something very basic on so many classes, feels... most discouraging. I started leveling some of my favorite classes, and top levels I managed to reach were 30th/40th. And one of these toons was geared into exp-boosting set.
Second big thing for me - Abilities. With so many classes loosing quite a significant number of their abilities, sometimes iconic, it leaves me with sensation of playing something very different. And I gave a try to 5-6 different classes. And only 1 of them I actually enjoyed. Other ranged from - 'hrm, that could be interesting, that could be useful' - something alright, to - 'Look how they massacred my boy'. Not something you want to happen with some of your favorite classes.
More over, sometimes the choices we have, they... just don't make sense. Because in great many cases, there actually won't be any choice at all. For example, I just can't see any Marauder not picking Predation. First of all, it's something that makes this class feel unique, provides you with Marauder experience. And perhaps, perhaps, if we had to choose from new abilities, that has affects the same thing - ours, and our group, mobility and everything related to it - now it could have been interesting. But instead we have a choice of Trauma and Immobilization - although I might be wrong about it - something you use mostly in PvP. And playing as Marauder in PvP without using Predation...Well, as I said earlier, playing Marauder without it any kind of content leaves your feeling that you're playing as very, very crippled Juggernaut - at least from my point of view.
Third. Gear. And I can't really see benefits of new system. It's not even a step, but actually a huge leap into the past, where we, players, were quite redistricted in type of content we could play. Once again having so many different type of currencies, which we'll have to spend at different type of merchants, it's already feels bad. Especially in compare with what we have on live. Which is - Freedom. Freedom of choice of doing literally every kind of content we want/like regardless of its difficulty, and still progressing about irating.
And now you want to replace it with something from 4/5 years ago? What for? Just to force us to play a game as you want us to play?
More over some parts of that system don't have any sense. Like PvP gear. Which starts with rating 316. While new default is 318. Back then, in 3.0, I think 4.0 - but again could be mistaken about updates - that made sense, since we had special PvP stat. And do you remember, then right when you got rid of it, there was such a huge boost in amount of players doing PvP content.
But now? Why would anyone would go for a lower-tier gear, especially since you'll have to work your way earning whole different type of currency designed for this content?
Fourth. Interface. I'm really certain that on stage of concept arts it looked great. Well, it certainly might look great. But the thing about interface - it's more about function, and less about looks.
First of all - why now it's taken into one huge sheet that literally blocks the whole screen? I don't need to see literally everything to quickly change skin of my companion/ my outfit, mess with the ship. I just don't. Especially why moving.
Secondary. Stats. Instead of seeing them right away - which, for me, could be quite important since I love taking a peek at other player's characters, seeing how they gear/play them. But now we gotta press details. And scroll. First down, then up - because we're not used to it. And let us agree, in such type of MMORPG as SWtOR, knowing stats is quite important. And now we can't do it easily.
Thirdly - inventory. Why changing ten boxes to eight? Because it doesn't feet the screen with the whole character sheet and every single piece of info united into one panned? I mean, maybe for some of the players it's not a problem. But it is for me. It turns smaller window of inventory into something really confusing. Especially with, if I'm not mistaken, smaller inventory slots, and much bright borders of these slots. Again, something really confusing. No more quick glances where is what, but rather long time studying it.
As a conclusion... Well, OP nailed it. How about No.
Right now 7.0 has some looks of SWtOR. But for me - it's really just a pretender, a fraud who tries to convince me that ti's exactly the same game. While it's not. It's very, very different. With many changes never asked for, never explained - but you have that habit of ignoring you community, don't you?
I personally just don't see myself playing the game after that expansion any longer. Hell, looking at PTS now, I'm not even certain if I'm going to do the story. And judging by the amount and content of the posts above mine, and I believe rather shorty - also below - it might be simply an end of this game - it will get too grindy for newcomers, and I suspect would kill their interest before they reach End Game - biggest goal of every MMORPG, and it would be too different for veteran players.
