Just like to add that I as well am a returning player and have no idea why I left in the first place. This is above and beyond the MMO for me and I tried them all. Nothing compares to EQ2's style of play and all those Quests make the game so much more enjoyable.
I agree with most of what you listed in your opening comments, nice to see that others have the exact same opinions as I do.
The utmost help I get on these Forums without that "newb" classification is what makes this community so much better and more mature than those "wow-kidddy" games out there. As well I can spam in different chat areas and I always get a helpful answer and I even recieved a Tel the other day from someone wanting to come and help me find what I was looking for.
Now on my Server Permafrost it is a little quiet though so it makes for grouping rare and almost non-existing but I mostly solo so that is no big deal.
I found a newbie in Kelethin yesterday and gave him about 50 of all my duplicate collectibles and gave him 35 gold to send him off on his hunting way and his response was moore then Flabergasted! He could not belive that someone would be so helpful to a new player. Heck that is just the way I am as I when I first strated was given tons of help. I know that I am not the only player that acts in that matter, another thing that makes this game so special. The Community of players who think about helping each other before arguing over a Drop!
All and all I am happy to be back and will be staying this time for a while, soloing or not this game has the "RPG Feel" and of course the Community to it I saw dearly love.
Thanks gang for making my return worth every penny of it!