Standalone, Add-on or Both

Now I know this is being discussed elsewhere, however the conversation focus on specific areas and I was wondering how people feel about this now?

For me, when factions came out and I heard it was a standalone as well I was very excited as it had very little impact on both standalone users and people with both.

Now I'm concerned for this standalone approach they've taken. Will we be seeing interlinked stories with quests that go over all the games, to keep interest in other continents, or will every area become obsolete every 6 months.

The standalone approach was great for the one sequel as all the current players were not restricted from having prophecies (in fact we gained) but now with nightfall coming out you have to feel that really there is 1 game with a small amount limited edition skills and professions and pve wise 2 games linked (nightfall and prophecies).

It's my hope they have factored this into nightfall to keep interest in the other characters, to develop them which in term will develop the game as a whole. I will of course be buying nightfall but I'll be sad to think that cantha may become a ghost continent with the occassional passer-by.

Or will we be seeing in the future a patch that can be bought after 6 months (instead of a new standalone), which contains new missions and skills which go over all the continents and makes a bigger storyline. With missions over several continents and long elite quests over continents too.

A-net have shown a great insight into the future of their business and have, in my opinion, made the right choices in the direction the game is taking...

... but what will the future hold?