I've played since it came out. I'm the kind of guy who, if i like a game, i keep playing it. I still play alot of old ones like CS, jagged alliance, disciples2, even soldier of fortune 2 (have a lan party once in a while, we all get drunk and shoot eachother).
Is SRO the best? well... when it came out it was good. There was no botting (or at least hardly any) which was ok, cause the cap was low, you could get to it.
tons of people who weren't afk. lots of fun. It definitely has potential.
but in reality i think...
6/10 graphics
8/10 sounds
7/10 character modelling
8/10 skills (graphic and concept)
1/10 leveling system
0/10 "SP" system. Its just stupid that you need a high level wizard botting for 2 months, while you are p lvled and then you need to go and die for a few hours and get ressed so you can get more sp..etc..etc.
0/10 quests serious, when i start a character, i usually don't do any of them now, they are so pointless. unless you get beserk scrolls or something.
6/10 job system, i'm being generous since i enjoy the jobs. but its really imbalanced.
3/10 pvp also seriously imbalanced. however, if you duel someone around your level, uninterrupted, its not too bad, could even be one of the best?
1/10 item mall everything is extremely overpriced. hell... i'd rather have iBot or Sbot than anything in the item mall. 3 hours of 2x exp for 20 bucks? hmm.... or bot for a month on like 7$ :P
Overall i still give a vote, because there was some good times on this game, and even tho i can't say too much good about it, i enjoy playing and thats all that matters.
I would still say Atlantica online is up there with the "best" mmo's. It's turned based killing though so its not really comparable.
Whoever said Cabal is on crack, that had to be the worst game i've ever played. I think i'd rather play knight online or even shitty rappelz than that game. To each their own