You hit the nail on the head with built in instant gratification. Example: I can't tell what an item will even do until I'm a level 15 mage, or a level XXX non mage who spambots Lore until it's reliable. That's a terrible curve to rub your face on if you're new. Most of the gear in the new areas are worse than the starting gear you get out of the academy and because level 11 is usually, quite easy to get to, you're grossly unprepared for the imminent prison-rape you're about to receive from the twinked out warriors and lowbie killers. :D

my two cents as a guy who's new, trying to fight upstream