ETA on Advanced Class change?

For instance: If you are a raider, and you play a Sith Inquisitor Assassin (DPS). Someone else has a Sith Assassin (DPS) as well. Now, they need a tank. The person who bought the AC unlock, and specc'd into a tank now has more utility than you. So you have spent 2 years playing a game where you went from a guaranteed raid slot to a 2nd option player who likely gets overlooked for people with an AC swap setup and geared.

Now, I am not a raider, for reason just like that. But I can assure you, the 60+ people in favor of this feature vs the millions who never come to the forum vs the devs who took the option completely out of the launch leads me to believe there were bigger reasons at hand to scrap it, and someone knows what those reasons were. Devs would not just develop an entire system, guarantee it at launch, and then scrap it without some sort of justification. Now, the teams are even smaller and the ones who pulled the trigger on dumping it likely aren't even around anymore to fully explain "why".

That makes you a PHILOSOPHER... not a realist.

explain difference between the two?

That's the question of the hour isn't it? Which is why I proposed the theory that he doesn't know.

Perhaps "doesn't know" is too strong. Maybe "Isn't certain", instead?

Isn't certain is on par with "maybe", a state of ambiguousness and being unable to lean one way or another. Which is what brings me back to "Maybe". Maybe "Possible" is a better answer from him. Since anything is "possible" and never say never... right?

A Realist bases things on facts, the way things are. The philosopher is a person who offers views or theories.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/philosopher

As a realist, I see the way the situation is. I can hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. But I do not know what the actual outcome is until it happens.

As a philosopher, you offer some metaphysical entanglement to your view stating "It will be a yes because the power of positive thinking will make it a yes."

The power of positive thinking has absolutely nothing to do with FACTS, and everything to do with HOPE. So if you want to HOPE for a yes, that is your prerogative. As a realist, I prefer to look at the evidence presented to me and try to predict the outcome based on the facts in the matter.

Still doesn't affect me. I don't raid either (or do any end game group content). That's probably why I don't buy this argument. To me, it seems that the only "guaranteed" raid slots are with friends and guildmates. If they relegate you to the bench as you suggest may happen, you need to find new friends and a new guild.

Also can't the same argument be made about anything that advantages one character over another? When they add a new tier of gear mods, I don't see anyone argue against it because I just spent two years "earning" my raid spot and now I'm being benched because this other guy already has the new stuff. Maybe raiders do make that argument ... I just haven't seen it. Because I don't raid and pay little attention to the SWTOR Raid-verse.

I realize you're not making this argument. You're simply providing an example of what others might argue. It just seems a tad flimsy to support denying a feature people want. Personally, I don't want it. And you make a decent point about why it's not in the game now. The crux of my post was intended to highlight the fact that, unless a change affects how I like to play, I don't care.

Philosophy and Realism is the same deal, you cant think of reality without delving in philosophy, hence why Philosophers were realists.

A realist in this thread would value the "weight" of the pettition by the amount, quality and pros,cons, after he will use philosophy or his own view of reality to know if its a YES or a NO or a MAYBE.

Also been 100% real like me has an advantage, I know essense of things of reality which people don't so my comments have more "weight" than the other person.

Again, you are using a personal view of Philosophy and Realism... which makes you an optimist
I am using the ACTUAL definitions of each word and showing how they apply... which makes me a realist

Being an optimist is not a bad thing, but the power of positive thinking is hardly an argument for how things are answered.

Again your point of view