I didn't find the playerbase very hostile at all -- although I wasn't involved in most PVP combat activities, which IIRC is also where most of the "pay to win" is focused.
(never did save up enough to buy wings, though)
(never did save up enough to buy wings, though)
I would never have the time for it now that I'm a bit older, but I had a great time and probably played for 6 or 7 years in total.
It's 100% where I learned to code and to coherently structure ideas and arguments.
Quite a lot of PvP, city scale and 1v1. Loved it.