Why are you comparing an aoe/control class to anything that isn’t?
You don’t have any evidence for why people are or are not playing mage. Personally I don’t play them because I hate their downtime you claim they don’t have. I only like them at 60
On horde, there are very few. When I was leveling up I saw them die all the time aoe grinding tanaris and wpl. When I saw them single targeting I never saw them 3 shotting mobs
Feral is actually really good, it just req you farm MCP enough to have a item restore inventory big enough that you never need to farm them again. You can if you run MCP and WHH and play smart getting all the same WB be top 3 on many bosses for MC and BWL, and still hella strong in cat for AQ / Naxx. Bear is always good.
Legit the only complaint I have is that the pre-aq tier loot (like fury warrior) is basically pointless outside of healing some when its handy.
The only thing I want from Classic+ is new content. I don’t want more levels or an increase in character power. Just new dungeons/raids to learn, zones to explore, and experiences to have.
I wouldn’t say no to some tactical class balance changes (ie, paladin taunt) but that’s it.
I kinda agree with the OP. If there’s a level increase, or any kind of power progression at all, I feel like Blizzard missed the point of what folks want out of Classic.
I would very much dislike a raise to the level cap. They should just add like a Naxx20 thats hard but has good gear and a new 40 man. Also swap around talents, and add dual spec.
I simply want them to add new zones/areas to explore in the existing Classic Azeroth with new quests and dungeons (yes even a raid or two).
No tinkering with graphics or adding things (races/classes/abilities/features/etc) already found in expansions.