Here's an off-topic peeve of mine. WoW has lost 600k subscribers and I think much of it has to do with the new raiding model. The encounters themselves aren't that bad--there are actually a few interesting new mechanics--it's the raid model (and I also think loot has become unexciting and there are a few issues for that, but I'll leave that rant for another post).
I've very unhappy with the new raiding model and the difficulty of 10 and 25 man raids. The balance between 10 and 25 is very horrid on several encounters; and so far, only 10 mans have been nerfed to be easier. Fights like Ascendant Council and Al'akir are far, far more difficult on 25 than 10, and heroic Chimaeron--while not particularly hard overall--is a joke on 10 man.
A 10 man raid guild is easier to run and get the same loot. The ratio of 25 to 10 has gone from around 1:4 to around 1:10.
It's very depressing to see more and more 25 man guilds collapse down to 10 mans. There are only hurdles for people wanting to raid in bigger raids and no incentives.
And the new Zinstances are prety much 5 man raids for the loot they drop. It seems like Blizzard is moving the game into a non-raiding format. Personally, 10 people doesn't hardly even feel like a raid to me. I didn't mind the jump from 40 to 25 too much; it made loot and logistics easier. But killing 25 mans raids is pretty much the same as killing raids to me.
