i totally agree the itemshop is not the problem of the game as a dedicated player WILL find a way to thrive even for free as there are goldfarming, the currencyexchagne and the auctions
however limited "propaganda" for the game and tightly limited buildoptions are a major disadvantage which should be taken care of
same as the opening of a second server was a questionable move, 1st it hat no exchange which made it a no-go for non-donators and once the exchange was added, everyone was already gone plus its the same as the 1st server, no point in playing there
Iam sad how basic mounts such as horses are sign of poverty, and its almost shame to summon such a mount. Its been completely replaced by battle mounts, robots,scifi howering machines, and it makes me so sad. Mount system needs to be changed, and rebalanced. Almost every new mount is better than previouse one.
i felt similar like you
as much as i love my lightningbolt, my titan and all the other battlemounts i still like to use the default horse, the rhino and all the other mounts
the "battlekelpie" (or whatever was its name) solved this for me (my lobster is now capeable of dismounting almost every other mount as it shoots lasers now and teleports forward, its the most awsome mount i ever had :x)
(for the curious reader, the battlekelpie is an item which equalizes all mounts more or less as it allows to grant the existing mounts the same skill as the best ride in the game, the lightning bolt, only exception is there is no 2nd player slot)