I think that there should be a seperate Graal Development Environment that has a server emulator to run NPC scrips etc. So you can develop offline. I've always thought it was kind of dumb to have the editor intergrated into the client.
But from Graal's standpoint, they're getting $100 a year for people who want to develop playerworlds. The $100 isn't really for hosting the playerworld, because they still have Playerworld Reviewers (which is very dumb, if people pay, let them put **** up, even if it's crap, it wont look bad for Graal, just the idiots who run those servers, that's why they're called "playerworlds").
Think of the $100 more like a Developer Fee. Like Nintendo will charge you to make Game Cube games. The difference here is that there is nothing for the developer to profit from. So it seems kind of ridiclious.
The fun thing about Graal has always been that players can get so involved. Making levels, adding to the world themselvs.
No offence, but I think Graal Kingdoms isn't fun at all. I only got Gold and VIP subscription to send Stefan a little more cash because I enjoy Graal. Then again, I thought Bomby Moon was stupid too. If I wanted to spend hours working to get money, I'd work, not play a game of... working?
Graal has always been about comunity. Unfortinately, like any comunity, as it gets bigger, more popular, it gets more fragile, it's eaiser to be friends and have a comunity with 20 people than 1,000 people.
As for Graal 3D, it won't work. Not unless Stefan hires some real good developers from somewhere like 3D Realms. Graal simply won't compeate with other 3D engines out there, and won't be able to catch up without a miricle. My suspicion is that Graal 3D will also be the end of player-created-levels and modles which will make Graal even less fun.
Here's a sugustion. Take Graal Classic, and make it a seperate client. Make 3D a seperate client. Improve the managment of Graal's playeworld system and you've got a good income base to take work on stuff like Graal 3D seriouslly.
End of Rant