"Advanced Classes = Fundamentally Different Class Designs"

While I kinda like the idea of getting away from paladin or druid style class design, there's only 4 stories per faction in the game.

I love my Vanguard, but requiring me to grind out the same quests & the same class story if I want to try Commando healing is, frankly, just stupid.

I'm finding the pro-AC-respec camp to be the more intellectually honest here. The amount of straw men being set up by the other side could consume the entire hay-producing capacity of the Midwestern United States.

Ironic considering every other MMO requires you to grind through 100% identical content instead of only SOME identical content. SWTOR has five stories (four class based, one that everyone experiences). Other MMOs have one - the same one for everyone.

Generally when evaluating who's out to lunch on a particular issue, I look at who appears to be more intellectually dishonest or clueless. This applies just about everywhere. When one side is misrepresenting the other's arguments, using bad argumentative tactics such as oversimplification, slippery-sloping, appeals to authority, and the like, it's usually a clue as to who's either on the wrong side of history or simply the wrong side of the argument.

I'm finding the pro-AC-respec camp to be the more intellectually honest here. The amount of straw men being set up by the other side could consume the entire hay-producing capacity of the Midwestern United States.

Just wanted to point out that in other MMO's you have a choice of where you want to go and level. For example in WoW there are almost always at least 2 zones that are the same level range for you to choose from, so that you can actually experience different content whilst levelling an alt.
in SWTOR the only difference in content is the class story if you choose a completely different class from your own, and not just a different AC. The Light Side/Dark Side choices only have a minimal effect on the difference of content.

Just wanted to point out that in other MMO's you have a choice of where you want to go and level. For example in WoW there are almost always at least 2 zones that are the same level range for you to choose from, so that you can actually experience different content whilst levelling an alt.

in SWTOR the only difference in content is the class story if you choose a completely different class from your own, and not just a different AC. The Light Side/Dark Side choices only have a minimal effect on the difference of content.

Why would you even bother giving any attention to the guy? He only compares to other games when it's convenient to him anyway, then when it's not (like with the druid/paladins thing a couple pages earlier), arguments magically become invalid because they're different games.

In this particular case for example he conveniently fails to mention how other games don't try to sell you "rich/varied story telling" as a main point while swtor does.

To this day, it's still unclear what the actual reasons (except blind fanaticism) behind the naysayers are, while the pro people have been coming up with countless reasonable motivations ranging from gameplay to functionality to personal preference.

It' also still unclear to this day, how exactly people not wanting to switch ac would be affected if others were able to. As the thing would merely be an option. More fanatical nonsense?

The reasons may be clear for the ac switching side, as far as the other side is concerned.. not so much.

The fanaticism of thinking that the way you want something IS the right way to go, without actually providing reasons, doesn't really qualify as a proper reason.

The reasons aren't clear because the fanatic you call others is you. People who cannot empathize with the opposing side are fanatics. Me? I can see how wanting to change your AC might allow for some people to get more enjoyment out of the game. Some people don't like playing alts. I had many friends in WoW that had one max level toon and a smattering of 2-3 alts in their low 20s that never got off the ground. People like that would benefit greatly from being able to fulfill all three roles and experience a varied gameplay experience offered by the two classes.

At the same time however, I also feel that there are many people who would level that one character, swap ACs some to play everything and then quit. Permanently. Without the option, they'd level alts to experience everything. They'd get full PvP and PvE sets on multiple toons to experience it all. And then quit. Permanently. In my mind, this is better for the health of the game and therefore the community. Its not detrimental to the player because they'd play that way anyway. By not giving them that option they are not harmed and the game lasts longer (and developers have more time to implement content that would keep this person playing).

Before you pounce, please realize this is but one reason. I presented both sides and attempted to show how both have valid reasoning however I agree more with the latter point. In my experience playing MMOs, its a more convincing point. No, I'm not going to give every point on either side the same treatment. This is an exercise to show you how empathy in a mature discussion works.

I have also, many times, solicited the notion of compromises. One of which allows players to change thier AC a finite number of times, at cost, as they level. Once they reach 50 they must choose one or the other and are locked there at max level. Another option is that, upon reaching max level (and the appropriate Legacy level), on one AC, that person has access to the opposing AC at level 10 on the fleet for their faction, ready to go. You get to dive right into the new gameplay, even if the story does feel a little "rehashed".

TL- DR: Yes, the ACs are "fundamentally different." The quests aren't. Please truly consider either allowing AC changes (at additional cost, quests, whatever) or change the AC storylines so that they're significantly different.