Do you have to be a powergamer to be good in guild wars?

also is there really no monthly fee?? how do they plan to finance the game w/o that?

By powergamer do you mean put alot of time into this just so you can compete? if thats what you mean then no you don't have to be a powergamer. The people who play more will be more experience and skilled at the game but it wont be because your character isnt good enough that you lose. Coordination and strategy play a major role in this game.

the game is financed with sales of OPTIONAL new content about twice a year (both of them equal to the original full game content)
huge