This is the foolish definition of “competition” that everyone knows today. The real word has another meaning. Competition means: “going together toward something”. And not: “bumping against each other”.
As an example DAoC’s PvP has a more proper competition focused around a realm and a common purpose, instead of a strict (and pointless) 1vs1.
The path to produce a successful game isn’t anymore the EQ-dependence that asks you a complete dedication. It’s time that these games become more accessible and fun right out of the box. I don’t want to play for months to be able to reach the core of the game like EQ high-level raids or DAoC PvP. I don’t want the players and my friends to be segregated on a stupid level system.
You need to address all those issues. This doesn’t mean that the game’s structure needs to be bland, it just means that the mechanics must revolve on different elements. Strengthen what has been interesting and address the real issues to allow everyone to experience the fun that till now has been accessible only to a “lucky” few.
WoW at least is trying with that awful “rest state” idea. I think, instead, that the problem should be fixed right in the gameplay.