[Tyhm]

I liked the old quests...

And yes, they're just hooks, exactly. The point is if you're new to the game, you can play the quests; it's a good way to figure out if it's worth keeping this game or not. IDEALLY the point would be if you're Old to the game you can play some quality quests when nobody else is online, but sadly they've never had much replay value...and what's the Point if you start out with all the goodies?

The argument is frequently made that people should have the option of skipping all the quests and starting with all the hearts and swords and shields they could ever want...I think the oft-revised Spar Zones does that nicely, as you can spar from the get-go, the only thing you can't do is PK.
(But I've always discouraged PKing, so there's my bias speaking again)

Maybe all the Cool Stuff should be quests, and all the PKing/Sparring/Simple Interaction stuff should be free...actually, that wouldn't be too hard to code, would it? All PvP using a different Sword and HP variableset; you quest to get more hearts and better baddy-killing swords, but in PvP it's [3] strikes, you're out, regardless. Or 5, simulate the Blood Axe And 10 Hearts days. You don't have to quest to get stronger at PvP, and you can't anyway, so everyone's even.