[WoW] Some things WoW could steal

I assert that WoW is, overall, the best MMO on the market today.  Even after almost eight years, it's still the top of the heap in design and gameplay.

That being said, other companies have come up with some good ideas.  Here's a few I think WoW should steal.

1) Companions, used in TOR and probably other games.  For WoW, I'd adapt it as hireable NPCs.  You could go to the heroes' hall or the tavern or something in Stormwind, and spend gold to recruit an NPC healer, tank, or DPS, who would hang out with you until killed or until you logged off.  This would allow people who prefer to play solo to complete small-group content.

In order to avoid stealing the pet classes' thunder, these NPCs should be totally outside the player's control.  They should have simple assist AIs -- the tank companion should taunt and do AoE threat as needed, the DPS companion should attack the player's target or AoE if the player AoEs, and the healer companion should, well, heal as needed.  This functionality is already basically implemented -- see the Sethria's Roost quests in the Firelands dailies.

I'd limit players to one guardian at a time, but these NPC guardians should be in addition to any pets or other assistant NPCs the players are granted (e.g. a warlock's wild imps).

2) Playable musical instruments, from LOTRO.  This is my favorite feature from LOTRO, and literally the only thing that keeps me logging in there every now and then.  I know that music isn't a big part of WoW's lore and background, especially not to the extent it is for LOTRO.  Still, being able to have my character bust out a lute or a harp or something would be great.

I'd recommend just stealing LOTRO's interface whole cloth for this -- playable song folder and all.  It's really well-done.

3) Scrolls of Playtime, from EVE's PLEX system.  (For those unfamiliar with how this works, a player buys a code with real money which can be redeemed for a non-bound in-game item.  When used, this in-game item extends the player's playtime by a month -- or it can be traded or sold on the AH.)  The PLEX system is so beautiful and pure, I don't know why this isn't already being done.  Granted, only the more wealthy players will be able to essentially fund their subscription with in-game gold, but hey -- someone paid for that game time, so Blizzard isn't losing out on a subscription, and server economies will always benefit from gold changing hands instead of just sitting there.

4) Account banks, from DDO.  I think.  I'm pretty sure DDO has these.  This is an oft-requested quality-of-life improvement, and I'd really like to see it implemented.

5) Events, like rifts in RIFTS or incursions in EVE.  Have the Horde occasionally attack Stormwind, or the Alliance occasionally raid Thunder Bluff.  Have the Scourge try to retake Light's Hope every so often.  These events would happen maybe once a week for each one.  WoW already did this at the launch of Wrath and Cataclysm, and might have for BC and some of the earlier patches.  Wouldn't know, wasn't playing all that much back then.  Still, having events in obscure places would get players out in the world, especially if you could earn valor doing them.  And they'd be great opportunities for world PvP on appropriate realms.

I'm sure there's other stuff, but that's what I've got so far.  Comments?  Thoughts?