As a seasoned player coming back to EVE and trying out the NPE for myself, I can see where your coming from, but I don't completely agree.

A lot of the overwhelming features that used to be there have been taken out, and overall it feels like a easier curve to get over.

But my main gripe is the same as yours, that it just takes a very long time just to get upto scratch, where you had that coming out of the gate before, and that is a step backwards. x2 training speed is not enough.

However, it is something, and there is a fair likelihood that CCP will revisit the NPE and adjust when necessary.

Overall, its not so much a step backward, as a step to the side.


Is it perfect? hell no.
Is it better that before.... maybe, time will tell.