It seems that have taken the best from most other games, and added them, i think wvw is brilliant not much unlike DAoC no realm ranks yet that i know off, bg's just like WoW but better and the maps are brilliant same as wvw maps.
all in all very chuffed, i agree on crafting slow, but then I play for a few days gather mats and then grind my skills up to get new gear, all in really enjoying playing an mmg for the first time in ages, that has sort of open world maps and you can really do things, rather than join the zerg you can break off and have a small group action.