Why are people so spectacularly bad at playing their classes?

[Ailedra]

Something I noticed in this thread is that apparently, smoothly and successfully running through group content is not fun. It is work. Interesting.

True statement, and a fair critique. Fun is something everybody defines for themselves. Some people find spreadsheet min/maxing to be fun. Some people find group content and communication to be fun. Some people find not having to worry about group content fun. It's no more valid to downplay somebody else's version of "fun" than it is to have your own version maligned.

LOTRO isn't exactly a complicated game when it comes to group content. You just need to put in a little effort to learn how your class works in a group. And that happens by experience. Trial and error. Communication. Not min-maxing and spreadsheets...

As noted, some people DO prefer spreadsheet min/maxing, and if they do, more power to them.

That said, while this is also a true statement, it doesn't really address people's preferences. Some people's aversion to group content has nothing at all to do with how difficult or complicated it is.