Some questions for @Raninia regarding endgame

[BinaryTertiary]

Edit: Cannot update the title of the thread, as "endgame" in the title doesn't really suit the questions presented for the most part. If a moderator (or Cordovan) could edit it out, it would be grand



Firstly, I'd like to start with saying that the amount of openness displayed by Raninia is, by far, the most welcome thing this game/community got in years. Whether you agree with the information or not, it's amazing to actually hear someone talk back...

With the pleasantries out of the way, here are some questions:

• As a new producer, are you pleased with the direction the game was heading in the last few years? (end-game gear heavily outclassing anything that a "casual" player might pick-up from landscape/dailies)
  
  
  • Based on that, are the plans ahead going to deviate from this trend? (bridging the gaps in some manner, increasing relevancy of crafting in the future and alike)
  
  
  
  
• With the history of 130 cap being rather ... eventful (the RK powerspike and death, Guardian irrelevancy in any major content, Wardens relying on a lottery to be impactful and current meta), we have seen some rather promising changes to shake things up.
  
  
  • The main question I'm trying to ask is what is the current standing on trait lines? Do we redefine trait lines as a ROLE (Minstrel main specc'ing into Red being capable DPS, Champion specc'ing into Blue being a tank etc.) or are we still staying on the original classification (Minstrel bringing healing exclusively, Champion bringing AOE damage as examples)
    
    
    • If former is true: Will we see any large-scale changes to how classes operate (similar to U22.2)?
      
    • If the latter is true: How will you balance out classes not outright being ignored (similar to Captains completely phasing out Guardians in all 3 stages of group content)?

• While unconfirmed when, the new legendary server seem to be aimed at making landscape more challenging, appealing to the demographic of players that wish for more of a challenge.
  
  
  • What is going to happen to Anor? We have already witnessed Ithil closing down due to lack of players. Do you have worries about further splitting the player-base down?
    
  • An interesting development is the request by some players to have the difficulty of the landscape scaled back, in contrast of this new mechanic's goal. Will you look into making the content more flexible on both sides of the spectrum or are you sticking firm to just the difficulty increase with this mechanic?

• In one of the previous correspondences (I cannot remember the source, unfortunately), you mentioned you have first played the game way back (2007 or 2010? Cannot remember exactly). This might be a memory jog due to the passage of time, but what are some key differences that you have noticed between playing the game then and now? What struck you the most over the years?
  
  
  • What memory is most engrained from when you played the game originally? What's stuck in your head as being that "one" moment?

• In what way, as a player, do you think you can improve the most?
  
  
  • Follow-up, do you have eventual aspirations to join larger group contents (6 and 12-mans)?
  • What do you think is the most daunting mechanic/skill (or anything) a relatively new or returning player would face?

• Will you ever consider streaming your own gameplay on the LOTRO social media outlets, similar to Cordovan? (Not saying to replace him, either as an extra with Cordovan providing additional commentary or insight OR as your own stream)

I think these are all the questions I have, if anyone on the forums would like to chime in, it'd be really appreciated in case I missed out something crucial.