Lets first agree that BiS items wont be raining from the sky like the console as it will definately reduce the longevity of this game. Also we can agree that trading will still be the fastest way to get the specific build u want. Esp considering we will have 500+ different ledge items dropping.

Now imagine u want items #3 #4 #44 #56 #55 #77 #267 #532 etc because they support each other in making ur build and playstyle possible. Fastest way to get those will be via trade as farming them with random loot will just be a pain. Much better to swap #33(that u found) for #3. Not hard to understand this. ie trading will be required to be BiS.

The negatives created by AH removal:

1)Trading will take whole orders of magnitude longer and as a result players will have much less time to actually play the game. Having less time to play the game is always a bad thing. No way to argue against this.

2)Scammers will reign supreme as the general population will have zero idea of the actual value of items. No AH to quickly check the value of ur loot.

3) Elite players will be forced to use 3rd party and hence have to sacrifice their own security(both CC and account security)

4)The Gambling Effect(that carrot on stick due to chance of finding something worth real money) while loot hunting will be removed from the average player since the average player will never even consider going to try sell on 3rd party. This will significantly reduce the incentive to play once ur BiS. ie it will kill wht little remains of the end game. Cos seriously wht else is there to do once ur BiS????? 1shot monsters for zero reward? Boring!

5) Blizzard will no longer generate revenue from the RMAH and in turn this will result in less funds being available for content patches/updates. This is bad no matter how u cut it.

6) The gap between rich(traders) and normal players will widen even further and in the event of us getting an actual PvP this will only be magnified as only those willing to risk 3rd party will be able to compete at high level.

7) The increase of BoA gear will simply increase the number of accounts traded. People will rather buy a pre-used account maxed with BoA. This will also increase the incentive for hackers to hack and steal entire accounts. Further reducing player security, let alone reducing the number of new accounts sold...also reducing funds available for new content/patches.

8)Having to deal with an infinte army of trolls while trading is highly frustrating. I cant tell u how annoying it is to spend 30-60 mins negotiating only to have the troll laugh at u and say he was never gonna buy it in the first place.

9)Support department will need hire additional employees to handle the significant increase in tickets. Tickets such as : Ive been scammed, Ive been hacked, etc. Further reducing funds available for game improvements.

10) Forums and general chat will be filled with price checks since that will become the new fastest way to value ur item.

11) Bartering item for item is a horribly inefficient process and almost always one person gets ripped off. This basically creates unhappy feelings for one person every single time a trade takes place. Gone wil be the days of rejoicing at the Sold! text.

12) Removal of RMAH removes the power from real players and is bad for the US/EU economy. Previously RM trades are kept within their own region. The money does not leave the US. Now with the removal this money will leave the US and go to China/korea/Ni.geria/etc... Thats millions of dollars in tax revenue, thats less hospitals and less schools. Just plain bad.

13) Reduces the available playstyles. I cant see how reducing the number of playing options is going to be good for the games replayability or potential audience. Freedom is a good thing.

14) Crafting, in particular, gem crafting will become a very boring chore.
Without the Auction House, this process is going to hurt, and it's going to hurt a lot.


Drothvader himself made this quote. see So what about gems? (No Auction House) - Forums - Diablo III

***im tired now and cant think of more*** But im certain there are many more negatives i have overlooked.

Pls add more so we can compile a list and mayb sway the mind of Blizz.

1.) You are right. But this can only frustrate the player who is used to the instant gratification device that is the AH. Another way to deal with this might be to just play the build that your gear allows you to and develop some constraint regarding builds you don't have the gear for.
Also, a great many people actually consider playing your way towards your dream build/gear-setup one of the most fun (and rewarding) aspects of arpgs. It is not impossible to become one of them.

2.) First of all, overpricing is not scamming. Second, the value of the most sought after items will be common knowledge soon enough. It has been like that in D2 and it is like that in Path of Exile. There is no reason why it shouldn't be like that here. Even more so actually since - compared to the aforementioned games - D3's game mechanics are rather simple, making it easy for even the most casual players to figure out what's good and what's not.

3.) Are you defining elite players as players for whom "want to have" equals "must have right now" so overwhelmingly that they will feel "forced" to visit 3rd party sites?

4.) This is assuming that D3 with all the 2.0 features will not be different from the current D3. It is also assuming you know what constitutes "fun" for the average player (whoever that may be).

5.) Blizzard could propably put a server right into every active player's bedroom and would still have enough money to buy Switzerland.
The notion that the removal of the RMAH leads to less funds for patches and updates is downright silly. You do realize that, I hope.

6.) This is assuming that post-AH ingame trading will be so abysmally ineffective that the instant gratification crowd will feel "no other choice" but to go to 3rd party sites. Do you have to be reminded that you have no knowlegde whatsoever about 2.0 trade features?
It also assumes that itemization and trading will not be sufficient for this gap to eventually even out.

7.) Since apart from violating the EULA, buying accounts would mean an investment of several hundreds or thousands of dollars - with a heavy risk involved - I think it's safe to say that the number of accounts being bought for their gear will be insignificant.

8.) Sure there will be trolls. But not an "infinite army." Also, 30-60 minutes for one single trade, really? Only trade fetishists would do such a thing and only because they love haggling. Also, stuff like that is reportable.

9.) Blizzard could also buy Greece and Italy, make them fuse and call it Gritaly. Apart from that, as of now support is probably quite busy with AH issues often enough. And even if you were right (which I'm pretty sure you're not), an increase of budget for support does not automate a decrease in budget for game development. Even a poor company would strain to avoid just that.

10.) Maybe in the first weeks and months, but they will become less in time. Also, Blizzard might install a subforum etc. for price checks. Also, with all the 2.0 features players might become less interested in trading and more in playing the game, and in being rewarded for it.

11.) You are assuming that bartering item for item will be the most common way to trade, and not an exception. You don't know enough knowledge of 2.0 to make such an assumption. There might be a considerable gold sink, for example. making gold a very sought after commodity.
Also, you do not have to trade just one piece of gear for just one other piece of gear. If you feel there is an imbalance you can always ask for or provide additional "small change" like gems etc.

12.) Sorry, but this is just ridiculous.

13.) Freedom is not generally a good thing, e.g. laws limit one's personal freedom for the benefit of society as a whole. Accordingly every freedom or lack thereof must be judged individually.
The removal of the AH might be beneficial to the game or it might not. We won't know until we know more.

14.) You are assuming that Blizzard is not aware of or ignores this. You might be right but, then again, you might not be.