>back in the day
>see a high level player with expensive or hard to obtain gear
>"wow! maybe one day i will be as cool as him!"
>hear about a guy who spends 24/7 camping a low level zone
>"what a legend! i better avoid that zone, wouldnt want to be one of his victims. hey, maybe we can team up and fight him?? that would be epic!"

>now
>see a high level player with expensive or hard to obtain gear
>"this guy has played the game more than me?! ugh what a loser virgin incel i bet hes fat and gay"
>hear about a guy who spends 24/7 camping a low level zone
>"report him for griefing he will be banned"

this mindset is unironically what killed mmos. no community can be formed when nobody cares/respects other people in the community. look at how many people ITT are bitching about "nolifers". those are the people who made mmos special