I personally liked EQ for its difficulty.
Back before EQ, I played UO. Before they incorporated non-PvP areas and the whole ridiculous Felucca/Trammel idea, it was somewhat intense. You'd leave town afraid that you might get killed and lose everything. People didn't carry more than they absolutely had to, and you were quick to make friends so you'd have someone to help you if you were in a bind. UO had both strong community AND a strong player-based economy.
EQ was similar. It was hard, it forced you to THINK. Doing quests required you to use your brain and deduce where to go, preferably with a knowledge of the land. By comparison, games like WoW just give you a waypoint "go here, then here, then here" system and simplify everything. EQ just dropped you at your starting town with a newbie weapon and a note that equated to "Go find your guildmaster on your own. Good Luck!"
Games today are too easy and meant for people with short attention spans. Yes, you had to grind for months to get anywhere in classic EQ, but the game wasn't about grinding, or leveling up to get "uber" for most players. I played for two years and only made it to level 37 on my ranger, and I LOVED the game. I wasn't obsessed with leveling, just with finding new places and meeting new people to group with.
Classic EQ was great, despite the characteristics that some might call "flaws".
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