RMAH it's not as bad as goldAH, it provides a safer environment for those players that are willing to spend real money on items which in D2 used to trade on 3rd party or worse..
Problem is (IMO) both AH's greatly influence:
1. the drop perception by players ( "I cannot find anything good!", "Loot is crap in this game", etc ) AND devs (crappy legendaries)
2. Game difficulty perception by players ("This game is too easy!" or "To beat this game without AH is impossible, Blizz made it so you have to use AH" which led to decreasing overall difficulty)
3. possible changes to the game mechanics (increase drop ratio will flood tha AH, removing/changing stats on gear will make some items overpowered or obsolete thus causing great criticism from the players who have spent real money to buy stuff, etc)
4. give some players the false impression that playing this game is a way to make money while it should be to have fun, alone or with friends.
That's why back then I choose to play "self found": the game last longer, it's more challenging, you find upgrades more often and once in a while you get a big happy surprise.
Guess I went a little off topic, this topic is not about AH but I'm trying to explain myself and my choice.
I'm playing no-AH since release so just give me no-AH servers and I'd be happy.
Unfortunately I don't think Blizz will do this any sooner than expansion, if ever.
Self found to me is using gear found or crafted by any of my characters.
I levelled all 10 of them at the same time, in SP mode.
No gear from friends, not even for free.
No item from the AH, obviously.
This way suits me the best.
And that's why I think there should have been three types of characters: SC, HC and "no AH" (edit: "self found" may be a better definition) .
Problem is (IMO) both AH's greatly influence:
1. the drop perception by players ( "I cannot find anything good!", "Loot is crap in this game", etc ) AND devs (crappy legendaries)
2. Game difficulty perception by players ("This game is too easy!" or "To beat this game without AH is impossible, Blizz made it so you have to use AH" which led to decreasing overall difficulty)
3. possible changes to the game mechanics (increase drop ratio will flood tha AH, removing/changing stats on gear will make some items overpowered or obsolete thus causing great criticism from the players who have spent real money to buy stuff, etc)
4. give some players the false impression that playing this game is a way to make money while it should be to have fun, alone or with friends.
That's why back then I choose to play "self found": the game last longer, it's more challenging, you find upgrades more often and once in a while you get a big happy surprise.
Guess I went a little off topic, this topic is not about AH but I'm trying to explain myself and my choice.
Unfortunately I don't think Blizz will do this any sooner than expansion, if ever.
I levelled all 10 of them at the same time, in SP mode.
No gear from friends, not even for free.
No item from the AH, obviously.
This way suits me the best.
And that's why I think there should have been three types of characters: SC, HC and "no AH" (edit: "self found" may be a better definition) .