EVE Online's Development Approach

So I was reading an interesting article about how EVE Online plans out some of their development.  Basically in summary: CCP (The company who created EVE Online) allowed the playerbase to select 9 players to represent them to the development team.  These 9 players came up with their top 10 issues they think should be resolved and give them to the dev's, who estimate how long each task will take.  Given those estimates the group of 9 will prioritize them and send them back, and the dev's then get to work.

I'm about to begin working for a company that's main focus is projects.  This process therefore seems extremely logical and familiar.  When I look at how WoW does their suggestions (forums for the most part I believe?) and then how EVE does theirs.  It almost seems like CCP is treating these 9 people (who are actual players) as CUSTOMERS. 

Yea, pretty shocking.  I know.  But these 9 people get status reports from the devs and then in turn give those to the playerbase.

Because these 9 people are 'elected' by the players it would seem very democratic and representative...right?  I am curious if that is actually the case, or if it is similar to our political system in the USA.  And while technically any of the players could get elected.  In reality you need to be a part of a major in game corporation to be considered.  I wonder if there's an electoral college in game too?

If WoW moved to something like this, do you think the elections would be truly anyone could win?  Or would people just vote in the biggest names? A member of Ensidia? Ming?  Would that even be that bad of an idea?

What Keeps You Coming Back?

Recently Real Life has been really getting in the way of my WoW time.  I play soccer Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday, with Softball Tuesday Thursday, and then some volleyball thrown in Friday.  With all of this I find it hard to find the time to play anymore.  However, when I think about it, I've more or less always played a lot of sports after work, but I still found time to play WoW or other games.  My fiance also moved in with me this last week.  As the relationship is no longer a distance one I also spend a lot more time with her (obviously).  All of these things come together and seem to keep me from playing WoW, but I do not seem to disappointed with it.  The only drive I have to play is my goal of getting 1800 in the arena to buy a weapon.  While this seems like a fairly easy goal to a lot of people I have found it extremely difficult.  This season alone I've had 3 different 2's partners on 3 different teams.  All 3 of those teams seem to sit around 1700 before either Lock A deactivates his account, Lock B doesn't have the time to play said Lock along with his priest in HC Raids, 5's, 3's, 2's as well as I believe his druid in some arenas as well.  The good news about all of that though is that it means I'm back to my old 2's partner.......

RAITHEN!!!

  Yea, in case you were curious, that's what he does to people.

However, he also has some drains on his time.  Meaning my free time does not = his free time.

PvP is trying to bring me back, but not doing a good job.  With Cataclysm around the corner (hopefully).  What keeps you playing until then?  What keeps you excited?