Defending/Attacking the fuzzy math concept.

Gonna disagree in two points. First of all, just because a company doesn't give something to people who desire doesn't mean they have some wicked scheme. First of all, character slots take up server space, and what makes server space? Money, and there is no montly fee, so they have the money the make off the game when it sells. Thats a lot harder to depend on then a monthly fee they "know" is coming.

Second, I bet people would still want Prot Bond to work how it used to, so they could farm easier. Its not good for the economy, so ANet declines.

Not saying you said this, but also, it gets annoying listening to people say ANet just wants more money. Well, hello, they are a business. They need money to pay employees, make more games, and keep the servers running. I should hope they want money.

I don't know to laugh or cry about all this "math" and I love all the posts making fun of it coming up with "valid" number for both case's.

Anet has shown they do care about there fan base more then other compaines. They made the decission to do 6 vs 8.

It boils down to this (IMHO) NO ONE knows how much Anet spends to stay in business and what there internal plans are and even if this was a money situation or a DESIGN by the developers. Unless ANET comes out and says why they did 6 instead of 8 publicly no one will know. Unless you work in Anet fin department NO ONE has the correct figures.

Now that being said the nature of the arugment's = you buying the game is worth it to you with how they implemented merged accounts are valid.

Myself, I'm content with the situation as it is for the way I play, others will not be.

There is a concept in economics called revealed preferences. It basically said if people choose an option they prefer that option. Almost everyone is choosing to link accounts, therefore the value of the linked acount is indeed more than mirroring Prophecies with 4 more unlinked slots, since the costs were the same. If you feel that the content of Prophecies and Factions independently is similar, you would have to conclude that peoples revealed preferences indicate that the linked account is of better value.

It is hard to argue that we are getting ripped off when everyone is overwhelmingly choosing the option you are complaining about.

Also, price descrimination or the ability to charge different prices to different consumers is totally ethical for a luxury product. Next time you talk about "greed" consider the designers who took huge risks on a product with uncertain rewards. Consider how the size of the art staff increased after factions success and how the game art is much better. Every time a new product is made it is due to "greed".

(For you economists out there, I'm playing a bit fast and loose with terminology, but the concepts hold,)