Man, I played this game for hours on end. I got into it in 2004 and played for four years straight.
I actually really, really liked the grinding, just because it may have been grinding, but there were so many skills, that instant gratification of hitting the next level was always right around the corner.
It was cheap, easy, and fun. What else is there to say?
On a side note: there was one place that was super popular for fishing back in 2007, and if you spent enough time there, the conversations that were had in that place were pure hilarity.