Gravely, I interpreted this statement...
"Why should, on top of having access to all arenas, almost all gear, all content/quests, all titans, all buffs, should high level (for sake of the discussion, 700+) players also have an equal (or greater) opportunity to experience PvP?"
...as an "insinuation" that I shouldn't have at least the same opportunity to participate in PvP as lower level players. However, I reacted poorly and I apologize for that. HCS wants feedback on what would make the GAME more FUN for everyone. Seeing as how I've been playing FS for years, I believe I'm entitled to have an opinion. I've had a number of friends stop playing the game and I know their reasons. I've commented on this topic not as someone who wants to be able to do everything and control everything but as someone who would like to see FS evolve and hopefully keep players around longer.
To give you an idea of where I'm coming from, FS was the very first online game I ever played. The social aspect of the game was (and is) phenomenal. The RPG side... not so much. I toyed around with PvP at lower levels but there wasn't a lot of challenge in it to be honest. Not only that but players in general weren't as casual about being hit and hitting back as they are now and a player had the potential to lose a LOT more than 5 levels on the bb. I believe these negative PvP factors combined to completely alienate most players. Essentially, the only alternative at the time was leveling. I was always a pretty efficient hunter but I'd never say I've "raced" to EOC. And, contrary to what you might think, I've not been motivated by being able to say "Look at me, I'm the best". Other things came along such as inventing. I was among the first handful of people to create both inferno hammers and writhing wards, again don't take that as bragging but just an indication that I was actively participating in different aspects of the game and not just a head-down leveler. Then there was the arena. I went 4 months without hunting when that came along. After a while I was at the top of the arena leaderboard and was even the first player to receive a silver medal, just to give you an idea of the extent to which I submerged myself in something other than hunting. The arena was also was the beginning of the trend of additions from HCS that required much more participation (read as time) to be successful.
As far as other diversions went, guild-tagging and uber-powerful FI buffs combined to eliminate elite hunting as a short-term diversion. That also contributed to LEs becoming essentially a joke with gear being virtually worthless and having to battle the most legendary creature of all each time -- the lag monster. SE hunting was somewhat interesting but became SE location buying when the spawn times were randomized. Titan hunting might be fun as long as you have a lot of time to spend at the drop of a hat. On the other hand, I have to admit that I've been enjoying GvG lately, not because there are so many guild targets for me personally, but because my guildmates are having a good time and I can appreciate that and have a good time myself buffing them and following their progress. However, hunting is getting old and, as I said, many of the other options in the game are too time-intensive for someone who has become a casual player.
Which leads me to this discussion. PvP at high levels. People don't do it for a number of reasons. I don't agree with the statement that prestige was brought into the game as a carrot for current PvPers. I believe it was an effort to entice others to give it a go. In that respect, it's failed. There's still too much of a negative perception of PvP in the game for most of the players around my level. Many are more inclined to automatically bounty someone for a hit without a second thought than to attack back. I believe that, with the proper incentive, that attitude might change and PvP would become another small reason for people to continue playing. Having 20 people to attack, 15 of which would likely bounty you because you'd be taking xp from them (and likely the other 5 as well), for 10 prestige points isn't going to cut it. Maybe I'm wrong and high level players were never intended to PvP but I hoped otherwise. Sorry again for typing up such a long post...