I keep switching back and forth between FFXIV and WoW every other month or so whenever they release new content patches, been doing this for the past 2 years or so. At least I never run out of things to do this way
WoW has only just models (outside of gnomes and dwarves) and yet that game is still the best MMO out there
Or even FF14. both of those games advertised themselves as part of an established franchise. The item you refer to as "bad design" has never been a major issue in the MMO market.