A recent discussion in another thread got me thinking: does anyone else ever get frustrated with the theorycrafting that seems to rule end-game PvE and PvP in many MMOs? I know people put a ton of time, effort and, thought into developing strategies and whatnot, but sometimes I can't help feeling like the "conventional wisdom" is flawed in one way or another.

For example, I think the conventional wisdom would usually say that, for a given fight, a player who did 900 DPS was better than a player who did 300 DPS, right? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that would be the general consensus. However, statistically speaking, both of the players came equally close to defeating a boss that requires 1000 DPS to beat.

I am by no means opposed to theorycrafting generally--having a strategy is probably better than not having a strategy--but I do think that people are sometimes overly accepting of its results.

You're right, end-game is crude, exclusive, and generally harms both immersion and fun over all, because it relies on numbers which many know as theory crafting and min/maxing.

Which is why, for the most part, it is relegated to the most competitive of outlets.

And competition by its very nature tends towards crude, exclusive, and generally not fun. Because, unless the stakes don't seem high to you, you will take every and any advantage to the detriment of all other facets of the environment you are present in.

Also some people get a kick out of being mathmetically superior. I know I do...god knows why, but min/maxing just feels fun for me. I like feeling like numbers are on my side (probably because I'm not the most skilled player and need a buffer >_>).

Your basically arguing against competitive nature overall. And I'm afraid there's nothing we can do about that, only accept it and either partake in it or not.

And people should never blindly accept theorycrafting results. A healthy dose of logic, common sense, and math skills helps people go way farther than they would with somebody else's spreadsheet.

If you don't want to get into the numbers and details that much then don't. Its all in the play style preference. For some they are fine with just touching the surface and playing their classes. But for many others the fun is going under the hood so to speak and digging into the numbers and building their classes to their maximum efficiency. So if you're getting frustrated then likely you should take a step back and re-evaluate your play style and make it suit your preference, instead of thinking you must play a certain way because others do.

Theres not really a wrong way or right way about it, simply a playstyle preference.

I love theorycrafting and couldn't give a crap about "immersion". The word "immersion" is something of a joke in theorycrafting circles. The numbers that you used in your example would go into the theorycrafting equations, but DPS is just one factor. Your example would be more of a 3/2 version 900/300.

Some of the theorycrafting discussion, tools, spreadsheets, and database get quite complicated and is something that a good many of us love to do.

I hate everything about theory crafting and min/maxing. If I play Street Fighter or BF or Halo, I don't expect to see the numbers behind the curtain. And once those things are exposed, it stops becoming a "choice" at all if you want to be even slightly competitive. Even having access to stuff like that just seems like cheating and completely turns me off to the game. YMMV.

Ironically, the games you mention do not have min/max or theory crating as they are not RPG's. Those games are based purely on skill and what weapon's/Characters you are good with.