Idk, i played Aion after eu-release and it was fine. But then came those typical "everything is too hard" ppl and the game got easier and easier.
You are completly wrong.
I played Aion beta and after the release in 2008. And current version is a clownfiesta.
Iam currentli sitting on ~3.000.000 soulsicknes kinah, I did 10 runs NTC after server start and got 11 stigmas which 5 of them was ranger stigma for ELYOS side (iam an asmo)
I killed Hulker on level 4 and he dropped blue earings for level 21.
When i was doing SR i killed mob level 47 and he dropped me a freakin blue sword for level 25.
Dude grinding isnt a problem i can sit in one spot and kill 10000 mobs drinking coffee, listen to the music and chillin' (i used to play original Lineage II in 1999 so i know what grinding means) Its all about their monetization issues.
There is shortage of items on the market so prices are skyrocketing, with 0 drops from mobs so you can vendor something or farm mobs for kinah.
They are pushing players to buy Deava Coins and sell them for kinah.
This game will end up like NA version sooner or later.
They got us by nostalgia and thats about it.