Scott,
My major deciding factor for buying EQ2 and forgoing all of the other MMORPGs out there was the exclusion of PvP. Sure several other things have made me like the game but I felt that, because there was no PvP and to quote the Beta boards "No plans to include PvP", once I established my character it would be MY character good or bad it would be based on the choices I made.
The introduction of PvP and your own statment about balancing PvP based on the current set of skills drives home once again the issues that I fear and that might make this game loose the fun for me. This issue is the change of my character/my character's skills based on the need to balance PvP.
There are several examples of this, the most notable in recent MMO history (And the one I fear will happen to my Character) is the nerf in DAOC where the scout classes lost the high damage range attacks because they could put down casters in one shot.
Now from a PvP stand point it was perfectly reasonable to change this ablity, however that change was not confined to the realm of PvP. That change made it impossible for any scout to effectively solo as they did prior to the change, because it changed the base mechanic of the ability.
I know you have stated that the EQ2 team is trying to make PvP fun and balanced but remember some players do not want to PvP and most likely will never take part in PvP or even Duels. Any changes that you make to abilities, spells or auto attack can have direct impact on the part of the game people like me consider fun.
All that being said I am excited to see the upcoming changes and improvements that you and the EQ2 team are making. One request I have, please allow players to set a flag somehow to ignore all duels/PvP style combat options. Currently it is bad enough when you are running around and get the random nearly full screen message that Person X has invited you to a Group, I can just imagine all the pop ups that griefers will be able to provide should you not allow a global "I do not PvP and Do not want to see the PvP" flag for the characters. I do not want to have to keep adding to my ignore list based on someone just wanting to Duel.
Thank You
Cavel