VMoL has turned people into elitists and turned people into liars. Or rather brought those things to the surface, if they've already existed.
You have people comparing DPS scores constantly if you want a chance at getting in a group, and people getting hounded about what gear they're wearing, and who they know. You basically get interviewed at a chance of doing VMoL. And even then the so-called progression teams are a sham. Or so I've experienced from 4 different guilds. It's to the point now some guilds literally break people up as: "Skinned" and "Non-Skinned". The "Non-Skinned" people get treated like ****, and get placed on these strictly timed "progression teams" that really just waste time. And wipe constantly until the time is up for the progression team's "slot", and then at the end give a half-assed speech about how the progress was good. Only for moments later after the run to talk about how the "Skinned" make things so much easier, and how they actually try during those. WTF? And to make matters worse, it's not even like these folks are even applying strategies and methods that they came up with themselves. No. They got it from watching YouTube videos, and communicating with folks who play on PC. Get information from there, and replicate it until it's damn near the same. It's ridiculous.
Oh, and you best believe I'm not leaving out the corrupt side of things. Remember that exploit of Maw? Well there's tons of people with the skin, and don't even know the mechanics. But get treated like royalty whereever they go because of it. I met a CP277 earlier in Grahtwood. Asked how they got the skin, and was told that they, "Got it while the getting was good." Huh? Seriously? And they get treated better than other folks because they exploited for it? Not to mention the carrying nonsense occurring. The so-called "Number 1" end-game PvE guild calling themselves a "Council" on PS4 are selling "Carry Runs" for 2M to anyone wanting the skin. And supposedly the person being carried gets to keep all 12 gold pieces awarded at the end. The hell?
That's where we are as an end-game PvE community right now on console, and it's horrible. It's get shuffled around and bs'd to constantly, unless you know someone who'll "make time for you" to get tested relentlessly. Get thrown in half-added progression teams. Get treated like ****, spoken down to, lied to, and forgotten about for the most part. And hope you just can click-up with the "pros" to let you into a dedicated Maw group.
Why am I even talking about this, being as how I do often speak of preferring solo play and being on my own? Because I witnessed the crap first-hand for myself not too long ago, and am disgusted. And plus I've had experience of what is occurring myself. Even as a guy who solo's vet dungeons on hard mode, has flawless, has beaten all vet trials on hard mode — I'm labeled as "progression" and "subpar" due to not having a damn Maw skin. And because of the bs, I probably won't ever get it. Damn the fact I know mechanics of the place inside and out. Damn the fact I put up with DPS tests in the past from this and that guild, when I hate the stupid tests to begin with. Damn the fact I can do what most can't, and have video footage of me doing so. Damn all that. That means nothing, all because my skin isn't black with shiny blue inserts. I've been lied to by guild after guild, and people who I thought were friends. All because of something Maw related usually being behind it. I'm so sick and tired of the ****, you won't believe it.
And it's not just Maw that this crap started. No. The elitism and segregation REALLY kicked off with the Stormproof emergence. If you weren't Stormproof, you didn't mean squat. And we're ignored and treated like filth. Now it's Maw. And because of the events that happened previously, it's 10x worse than back then. Except when back then (and to this day somewhat people account shared for Stormproof clears. And paid others to get leaderboard runs. This still occurs, but not as much as it used to.