I'm not an anti-WoW guy. I'm saying what I'm saying after having subscribed to an online game. When I was doing that, then pretty much all of my gaming time would go that game (i.e. PSO). Due to the fact that I was paying for it, it would take up most if not all of my gaming time.
The reason I say that XBox Live is different is that you're paying one fee but get to play many games on it. I know that the other consoles allow you to play online free. Just recently they started actually giving bonuses to XBox Live Gold members in the form of discounts for downloadable games/content. Also, when I was subscribing to PSO episode I & II, in a year I'd end up paying much more than what I would pay for a year of XBox Live.
If I remember correctly, WoW fees are above $10 USD, right? If I'm paying that much to play a game (above the cost of the game itself), then I'd have to make sure that I have plenty of time to play it and it would take up most of my gaming time also. That's why I say a game like that is not worth it for me at this point.
Games that I could put in the same category would be Phantasy Universe and Final Fantasy XI.