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There's no difference between killing something to loot coin or eq to "get to the highest level and kit yourself out with cool equipment" and Viagra MUDs, where you pay-for-perks. They both depend on spending resources outside of the game itself (whether it's the players' time or their money) to achieve in the game.
You mention equality. Most people that play games realize there isn't equality in the world, but that doesn't mean they really want it in their game either. That's why there are cheat codes. Most people transfer their same ambitions from reality into the game world (if not to even a greater level than in reality).
The only real difference you see in players is when they accept the inequality as long as it pertains to the game world. In other words, they expect nobles in the game to have certain things because they're noble. They do not however, expect that the nobles' players became nobles because they have money in real life. Same goes for anything in the game be it objects, wealth, or power. Only what occurs within the game can determine what that player will rise to (now, with their present character, or in the future, with new characters). If the border between reality and the game world is not strictly enforced and separated at all times, real-life ambition will seep in.
Pay-for-perks is probably the ultimate "gamey" style since in order to remain profitable, there has to be an advantage to paying.
Take care,
Jason
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