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Simply put, Matt, the complaint we more often get about our (diku-style, level-based, class-based) system is that the skill learning curve is too steep, not the reverse. It's not a simple time-to-results formula- skill matters because failures are setbacks, and when you make enough mistakes, more time just means wearing down your character's body.
Also, we use a system with aging and eventual permanent death (by age or violence). Every player starts over again after a period of time. Very few active characters last more than 2-3 months. So, if you're a veteran of 8 years, you're still starting at our Academy gates regularly. Can you move up the various ladders faster? Sure. You know the physical layout. You know how to equip and defend yourself in a combat system where 2-3 year veterans often still call themselves newbies. You know how the various political factions interact. You know how to effectively gather skilled allies. You know how to gather the various roleplaying incentives. That's skill, Matt. Opening your wallet isn't.
We're not unique in this. There are a number of quality games that emphasize these sorts of features. For you to make sweeping generalizations about "95%" and "time=success" is ignorant.
Because they're the most skill-intensive games I've found, and challenge me on diverse fronts. Maybe you've just played the wrong ones?
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