It just got whiner and whiner when people realized they were going to custom tailor it for their sensibilities.
Most of those "I quit" are the extreme hypocritical, if you agree that all of that was P2W when what changed from being be able to sell then on the Exchange? that in a week they can get less that 100m silver that is not even enough to buy a Boss Armor piece or weapon? The game issues do revolve around the grind for upgrading gear and because of how gearcentric the game is, its worst when you consider that enchantment goes from, lets take a Liverto Longsword ... AP +4, +3, +3, +2, +2, +3, +3, +5, +5, +5, +5, +5, +5, +5 and +5 were the bigger bonus are at the higher level and thats just to +15, the next bonus on +16 is +6 and then +8, its fucking stupid.
You think that is a accident to basically force people into having shit enchated gear after lv50 when mobs suddenly became Dark Souls? and yes gear does carry you and on PvP this is a death sentence ... no wonder when expansion hit and suddenly people started to walk out because what expansion? they were basically told" enjoy the next 200 hours of souless grind to upgrade your gear" just do anything there, the new area is even worst because the minimum to not be raped is +15 across the board.
And this isnt the publisher, that is Pearl Abyss ... then they wonder why they cannot retain new players, geez I wonder why your fucking expansions that are just +5 more levels of grind arent making people staying ...