That's one that really gets me mad. If the "Good stuff™" is locked behind X number of levels why are they even there? From a design standpoint it's unforgiveable in my book to make a player wait to have fun. Sure some things require learning/teaching the player or whatever, usually that a fun process in and of itself when done properly. Whenver I hear the "good stuff™"/"the real game starts at ...™" I just stop playing all together. I'm not interesting in playing lesser game in hopes that the supposed greater game that awaits is worth my time. The early game, mid-game, and late-game should all be fun rewarding games to play.

The sheer amount of bloat, filler, and fluff in modern games (and MMOs speifically) really shows how gaming has utterly lost the plot.