Video games with stat systems, online role playing games specifically, tend to turn into competitive games even if there is no PVP to be had. This is due to party composition, mostly; why take a less-than-perfect mage when you could take the perfect mage? When loot and numbers come into play, people get nitpicky, mean, and gatekeepy. The problem is that taking the less-than-perfect mage has no impact on content completion other than their damage numbers are slightly lower and it might take an extra minute to kill a boss; does this minor difference justify being denied a spot in a party? I would argue: no. Some would argue the opposite and I wouldn’t want to play video games with those people.