Rob,
An interesting article but, I cannot fathom the biased and seemingly misinformed nature of the article as a slam on PvPing in WoW.
My first instance is that the changes were dropped on unsuspecting players who had no idea they were coming.
Posted 11-14-06
http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/patchnotes/test-realm-patchnotes.html
And here 11/28/06
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=51145118&sid=1
You imply that the changes were made veritably with out notice. Historically, any patches that are on the PTR (public test realm) are implementend within 1.5 months depending on the scope and complexity of the patches.
If you have any interaction with software developement you will realize that they CANNOT give you a precise release date on a patch that is this sweeping, for the exact reason that they had to push back TBC expansion. Developement is a processs. It is developement. You do your best to make a release date, but ultimately, it comes down to the reliability of the software and its readiness. If it isnt ready, its not released. Do not think for a second that Blizzard wanted to miss the holiday shopping season entirely for their release. Your claim is simply uninformed and misleading.
Secondly, you paint a picture of PvPers that isnt really truthful either. less than 1% of server populations actually achieve raink 11, 12 or 13. The highest eschelons are experienced by only a very small number of players. Blizzard has stated in the past that the old honor system you described was not conducive to the general populace's PvP experience.
Additionally they claim that the INTEND the top end pvp gear to be accessible by ALL players, not soley those college students who band together to play a single account 24/7. I cannot believe you would discourage encouraging all levels of PvP play to 'mix it up'.
The battle grounds servers are experiencing record highs in play. Players who previously had no chance to casually earn desired rewards for PvPing have a whole new world opened to them, and they are taking full opportunity. If you were at all the PvP enthusiast you claim, I should think you would be extatic over the inclusion of a much more broad base of players. It is completely refreshing to play games now, because you no longer run into the 'hardcore groups' over and over and over. You do still meet them, but they are always peppered with some even matched challenges.
Overall, making flat rewards for time spent on PvP only makes sense for players of all types. Equating the change to BWL as a sudden game sweeping punishment only shows that you were poorly informed on the situation, because it only negatively affected those top 1% of people who were even going for the high ranks, and of them, only the ones, like yourself, who never read the announcements or message boards regarding a game you spend so much time playing.
The new system has breathed life into a frustrating and nonfunctioning PvP system. People who would never have considered PvPing are now regulars in the PvP battles. At the end of the day, that is always a good thing. Regardless of your feelings of betrayal at the time you feel wasted.
Personally, if you wouldnt PvP for the love of PvP, regardless of the rewards (like in Unreal tournament, or Counter Strike) then you probably would have whined about the changes. But if you simply like the competition of PvP, you would see the benefit of millions of more opponents in your battle fields. Blizzard is doing a FINE job, of including the masses in the struggle.
Less QQ more Pew Pew.