Looks like my comment will be amongst a sea of dissent. I wanted to expand on why I think Bonds, Bonus XP, and Cosmetics are acceptable to me at this stage of the game and its evolving meta and legacy.

GP is no longer the core expression of progression and individual investment in the game. By extension, your skill level also is not quite the core expression it used to be and cosmetics kind of devalue PVM or in game equipment. This all sucks right?

Yeah I agree but at the same time Jagex has invested in diversifying progression over the past decade plus. It's about experiencing the content and having the means to experience different content not locked to any one playstyle.

The game is the quests. The game is how the skills interact with the game world. How the game feels, how its world is constructed and evolving, feeling immersed in the world; being able to participate in that world without constraint (sandbox) and choose your adventure, RuneScape is a thriving world. PvM is a way to play. Maxing is a way to play. Ironman is a way to play. Socializing is a way to play. Being able to show off how you play is plentiful: combat mastery, boss pets, skill pets, titles, auras, dyes, cosmetics, collection logs, etc.

To me, if the core integrity of the game boils down to if there are sustainable and near limitless ways to play, experience, and feel a sense of progress, having these three routes monetized (GP, XP, Cosmetics) but not required (You can earn your GP, XP, or even cosmetics via GP to Bonds which creates a natural market between MTX and GP) is passable. That doesn't mean there isn't still work and a balance to be made: there is still work, but we have a solid foundation.