I agree with the devs. Leveling is not what this game is about. If you want a challenge go PvP and work your guild up the ladder. I think the PvE in this game is great but I have always hated the leveling grind.
I so wanted SWG to work out. I followed it even before BETA. But they just never gave what was promised. JTL is definitely going to make it a FPS game with little to nothing else.