Like yeah, I don’t use my pet for raiding
But I still use it when out in the world. Helps out tremendously when pulling large groups, or elite mobs, hero (can be moved, fine), or soloing the higher level older stuff, etc. it’s very useful
Not to mention - I’ve used the same pet now for 20 years. It’s named after my actual puppy from back then. Sometimes I just like using him
I think they should probably leave the eagle but make the pets a thing without any special abilities still.
Or at the very least make a base line dmg boost ability summon the pet to do that dmg instead…
But it still removes an actual pets utility…
My larger point above is that I do actually use it
I’m all for MM finally getting a unique identity, and in turn BM will also get a better pet identity beyond “pet does the work”.
If you’re a Hunter and you want to use a pet, there’s two great options for you.
You’re the second person I’ve seen use the argument “I’m attached to my pet”. If you’re attached to your pet, do you not want to be BM anyways? It’s way more pet-centric.
I do use it though…just not for raids
As for why not BM or surv? I think BM is beyond boring gameplay…and surv - if I wanted to play melee I’d just play my druid prob
I’ve also always been MM…even through the bad times…which Id say it’s in now…si I can understand a rework…just not this direction
If I’m not mistaking hunter has two other specs?
One specifically geared around the pets you love so much
In my opinion, MM has been struggling since mid Shadow Lands to actually have an identity and good gameplay.
It’s absolutely a controversial change. But I don’t think “I love my pet” is a good argument, because BM exists. BM is also getting improvements and Pack Leader is getting a full rework, it’s not like they’re just pulling the rug from under the 1 spec you enjoy
Youre also focusing on the I love my pet part…point of post is I DO use it
For what?
Utility? The utility is still all there (and even easier to use)
Numbers? No longer relevant.
Because you like a pet? Play BM.
Pets in raids as MM offers nothing. You can’t even see them with all the melee-clutter.
Then get rid of them altogether for the other specs if that’s going to be the argument
Warlocks too while we’re at it
No, because BM sucks. And I hate using two pets. And then a whole zoo of them.
I usually use Lone Wolf. But I don’t see why options should be removed.
Having to just pick another spec is a poor answer though.
You must realize how absurd it is to say, “That spec you like? That playstyle you enjoy? The pet that enables you to play like a sniper even in content where you don’t have an actual tank to distract enemies for you? None of that matters because you can always change playstyles entirely by swapping specs.”
The entire game has been moving for years away from forcing people to swap between specs based on content. 11.1 itself has several changes to other classes explicitly designed to make tank and healer damage more fluid and less hectic, which is a continuation of the trend that began with healers and tanks complaining in TBC and WotLK that they struggled with dailies and other non-group content because their kits were designed to rely heavily on other players. And now they’re taking a spec for arguably the most independent and self-sufficient class in the game and saying, “Now you’re a glass cannon that relies on other players for basically any challenging content because we’re taking away your main defense and not replacing it with anything nearly as useful.”
???
Pets are crucial to BM and SV. Was that a genuine comment?
My argument was pets in raids as MM offers nothing.
BM can now choose to have 1 pet in 11.1 with a new choice-node talent. 
Good news, genuinely, you can now use 1 pet as a talent. Doesn’t change the zoo part but you can go back to just 1 pet. I’m thrilled about that change.
You still have 2 other specs that use pets. This is a good change because now they can balance the spec around, not even possibly having a pet.
I prefer the MM skills and abilities to BM.
When I’m solo out in the world I will have her pet out to tank for her.
If I’m facing a world boss or elite I may dismiss the pet if it isn’t needed.
But I mostly play solo. If the eagle can’t tank that will be a nerf in my opinion.
That still doesn’t change the fact that BM playstyle and rotation sucks.
I despise it. I’ve despised it for quite a few expansions now.
You seem to be missing the point entirely. No one claimed it changed rotation. Do you not comprehend that people just like their pets for certain content? Or just overall? And telling them “go play an entirely different spec that plays entirely differently” is pretty ridiculous?
So swap to BM. We cant stall progress for these types of reasons. I want Blizzard to shake things up a lot more often.