Most likely I’ll have to join a covenant based on the ability, even if I hate their style, because I just don’t see Blizz being able to balance them all well enough, and if one ability is quite noticeably better… I want to join just on style, but I don’t see that being realistic.
That said, I want unique covenant abilities to work. It would be really neat if they did. I just don’t see it being possible.
Style! All about those aesthetics. 
I would say RP too, but none particularly fit my monk so just going for looks mainly and I’ll work her story into it.
As a filthy casual, I’m not bugged about abilities. To me power is still power regardless of which is slightly better. I’m good with anything and will play with what I happen to get. All part of the experience, but not the defining part.
At first, style. Then when I get all the mogs I want I will switch covenants and start building renown from scratch.
I don’t give a flying **** about the abilities.
Blizz is gonna make changes down the line and what might be good now might not be good later.
But mogs are good forever. :]
Aesthetic all the way. I’m casual as all get out; I don’t care one bit about min-maxing, but I certainly care about looking nice 
Well, I hope they’ll end up freeing the abilities because I don’t think that kind of decision is good for the game.
Anyways, luckily for me the best (and most versatile) ability for Warriors is the Kyrian’s Spear of Bastion. Which just so happens to be my covenant of choice.
Feel/utility + a bit of aesthetics. Ain’t no way I’m choosing a covenant based solely on damage only to see it killed in a balance patch.
Unless it’s something like inifite stars III chances are the difference isn’t going to be so significant that I feel like I can’t compete against it. And if it is it doesn’t matter because it will devalue the actual input I have on my throughput at which case why would I would to devalue my own effort?
Fashion first, fun second, safety third
Style. Ardenweald and Revendreth, here I come!
style.
covenants will be huge for your dps and utility.
but I also have no doubt that you’ll still be able to participate in mid to low-high mythic keys, and pull your weight in heroic raids even if you choose the “wrong” covenant. Will you be excelling and doing insane dps/healing/whatever? no, but you also probably wont be what’s keeping your group from progressing either.
so I’d rather go for style and flavor personally… Also blessing of seasons got nerfed so now I think the only “wrong” covenant is necrolords for paladins, and what self respecting paladin would side with them anyway?
Abilities for me. But I don’t really care for any of the aesthetics from the Covenants. Old mogs will have to do.
I’ll sacrifice Baine.
For me it’s more personal affinity. By that I mean I love the Maldraxxus plate transmog, but I just can’t get behind the beliefs of the covenant, the whole strength>everything vibe I’m seeing. So I probably won’t be going them on this character.
And I don’t really care too much about having “BiS” abilities either, I’ll make do with whatever. I’m probably going Nightfae on my DK just because it feels right for me.
I play for the luls. I won’t be pushed into Swolkins.
Abilities, I’d love to go Necrolord but their soulbinds and abilities for Death Knight are completely garbage for the stuff I want to do. So Night Fae it is I guess. 15% Strength bonus and Damage reduction plus 10% mastery whenever I cast it. It’s basically a must have for blood and Unholy. The only other option is Venthyr but My brother is already going that. Honestly kinda sucks cause The Night Fae clash hard with DKs and I hate how bright Death’s Due is.
Just remove all of it and focus on tbc wrath classic +
REMOVE ALL OF IT YOUR GABAGE RAIDING AND SCALLING ! DUDE ITS SO BAD IF YOU COMPARE TO ACTUAL GOOD PVE GAME LIKE DARK SOUL ITS COMPLETE UTHER GARBAGE. WORSE GAME IN THE WORLD!
As I’ve gotten older playing this game, been playing since Vanilla, I go for more Aesthetics, gameplay more or less is the same, it’s WoW, I don’t have the time to invest anymore for CE (last one I got is Ghuun), so AotC is enough for me, the occasional mythic raid easy bosses.
I love looking good in a game I enjoy.
We all know if one covenant is too OP it will get nerfed later anyway so just pick which one you like
Neither if I can help it. I bought SL just for the new customization’s and if I can lock my character so I don’t have to go into SL. I am going to be one happy gnome.
Fun this gal, is going to maldraxxus
My dk is going venthyr
My warruor is going maldraxxus
My pally is going bastion
My Rouge is going venthyr
Screw optimization