I have to echo that the Giant Monsters deserve something extra to make them worth killing at all. That may be another issue entirely, but as it is, the IO system coming in has a chance to make the change subtly.
Just wanted to chime in..
Been playing on and off since 04. I have 21 months of paid Vet rewards. Lvl 50 Characters etc... I actually have 2 paid accounts...one is for my GF, but she rarely plays, so I end up making more alts (altaholic here).
Anyway: Just thought I would throw my 2 cents in, I am not a forum regular as you can see by my amount of posts in 3 years.
1) Having some of the recipes being tied to story arcs I think is one of those ideas that is good on paper, but BAAAD in reality. I really dont want to go back through all of my story arcs with any of my characters.
2) Even task force drops are worrisome. I don't want to spend 4 hours doing a task force. Yes I know people have said they 'can' be done faster. I think placing rare drops in task forces makes these items available only to the hard core gamers. I am fairly hard-core, so I will be able to get these for myself and my supergroup....BUT I don't really feel this is fair to those who don't have the 'CONTINUOUS' time to be in a task force.
I REALLY like the suggestion that there be another broker, with a bar, whom you do missions for and get IO stuff. This seems to be a simple , clean solution to the continuous play problem.
3) As far as the economy goes, I really hope that influence becomes worth something....and If it does, I hope for two changes:
A) We should get both INF and PRESTIEGE post 34...Maybe at a half rate, but why does it have to be one or the other, why not allow us to get 1/2 and 1/2? Yes I know you can exit SG and Enter SG, but this is a hassle.
B) If influence becomes more valuable, perhaps we can change the EXCHANGE RATE for influence/prestiege..which right now is completely abyssmal. I would argue for changing it anyhow, but if Influence suddenly has some value (likeyou can actually buy a hamidon, or IO) then I think that the exchange rate needs to be changed immediately to reflect this.
4) With regards to the hamidon raid, I really hope there is a public HUGE type of raid. I thouroughly enjoyed coming to the hami-raids and seeing who was there, chatting with other non-sg people, and meeting new folks. Taking this away is questionable. In my opinion it takes away from the game. I like the idea of less lag etc..but this game is social, so to me it was worth it to be in a huge raid. I would humbly suggest having a raid such as the hamidon raid in addition to the new 'hamidon' raid.
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My general thoughts are that people play this game (at least me and my friends) partially because the game is so simple with regards to loot. I never liked rpgs that forced me to constantly stop and sell. I barely ever stop and sell enhancements, I just keep playing. People have different versions of fun, but tinkering with this main concept is very risky IMHO. I think the lack of LOOT and rare items was one of the main positive aspects of this game. Everyone is on the same level, even HO's dont take too long to get and they are announced time and day ahead of time. Introducing rare loot is going to change all of this.
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edited for clarity - removed the phrase 'some of the components for' from the 1st part of the post.
It's not some of the components for a recipe, it's the recipe itself.
Orc&Pie No.53230 There is an orc, and somehow, he got a pie. And you are hungry.
www.repeat-offenders.net
Negaduck: I see you found the crumb. I knew you'd never notice the huge flag.
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It's not some of the components for a recipe, it's the recipe itself.
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Thanks for the clarification, I removed the 'components' part and just left recipe. Seems like its kind of the same general concept though.
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I am listening to your ideas, but a Flashback system is simply not something we can implement in a timeframe you would all be happy with.
Instead we are looking into other options to get you the Pool B choice so level 50s don't feel gimped.
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Just to toss an idea out:
Would it be possible to allow every contact's mission content to scale dependant on the level of character they are talking to and then simply allow any level 50 character to interact with any contact?
Any contact would welcome the help of a world reknowned max level Hero/Villain, right?
If I remember correctly there was some talk of this at one point and the problem was that code wise mobs where bound to certain level ranges. So you couldn't ever see a level 50 Hellion for example. 
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Instead we are looking into other options to get you the Pool B choice so level 50s don't feel gimped.
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Any hints?
We need way more info to get good and frothing mad.
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Perfect Response 
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1) Having some of the recipes being tied to story arcs I think is one of those ideas that is good on paper, but BAAAD in reality. I really dont want to go back through all of my story arcs with any of my characters.
2) Even task force drops are worrisome. I don't want to spend 4 hours doing a task force. Yes I know people have said they 'can' be done faster. I think placing rare drops in task forces makes these items available only to the hard core gamers. I am fairly hard-core, so I will be able to get these for myself and my supergroup....BUT I don't really feel this is fair to those who don't have the 'CONTINUOUS' time to be in a task force.
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The problem with tying certain drops with completing Story Arcs was quickly pointed out to the Devs. They're looking into alternatives.
They are indeed TF's that take less than four hours to complete. The Terra Volta respec (which I believe counts) would be one. Then there's (possibly) the Cavern of Transcendance. With the right team, this one can take 30 minutes.
Edit: After a little reading, both of these are Trials, not TFs. Hess TF listed at about 1:30. (Hard to seperate TF from Trail sometimes)
If Brevity is the Soul of Wit, Why are You Reading This?
Devs really think players will have fun exemplaring to do TFs in order to get a little shiny recipe? Especially when it is clear than IOs arent such a big deal in the end? Look , Task Force Commander accolade gives a nice little boost but still i never envisioned getting it for every of my alts because the boost just isnt really needed.
Id rather keep defeating enemies that are around my level and gather more influence, salvages and SOs while keeping getting xps. I can still try to trade later. I really dont see myself exemplaring and wasting 5-6 hours on Positron TF. Not much fun imho and not enough rewarding.
I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
Voltaire
I feel they could tie B drops to arcs and badges earned.
Every 20 or so badges earned nets you a recipe. This would be retro active in the same way the accolades and varying badges have been in the past when patches come out. That way the 50s are all rewarded from being 50, and the newer players have two means of getting those recipes.