I played during the pre-patches for Burning Crusade, Wrath, and Cataclysm. Through all of these, I was nothing but excited to see the new changes that would be happening to my class. Although the core of my class remained the same and these patches represented additions to my class, or at least the significant potential of additions after we'd level to the next cap and unlock more talent points to use when the full expansion landed.

Maybe the MoP, WoD, and Legion pre-patches were different, but comparing the BfA pre-patch to the others I've experienced I find it mind-boggling that the main sense that people seem to have is one of loss. Every single 110 character is going to be majorly different tomorrow compared to how they are today, and they're universally going to have less skills and abilities.

I realize that adding abilities and skills every expansion is not sustainable. However, I enjoy the way my class plays now, and many artifact abilities are core to that. The philosophy of completely overhauling every class and taking away major abilities at the end of expansions just to add them back in as a new carrot to keep us invested in the new expansion leaves a very sour taste in my mouth. This is especially true when by all accounts the new additions from Azerite armor don't nearly compensate for the loss of artifact abilities, set bonuses, Netherlight Crucible, and legendary armor.

None of us should be disappointed or afraid of the changes coming tomorrow. And even if a few things are being taken away they should be overshadowed by exciting new abilities coming in BfA. From everything I've seen and read that's not going to be the case.