Stilachio Thrax
I hate running long distances in game, so some sort of auto-travel is something I'd like to see. It could simply be an auto-run on roads function, but we are supposed to be in a world full of magical wonders, I don't see why having some sort of teleportation service linking settlements to NPC and Allied settlements is that big a problem, especially if it is a big gold sink and doesn't let you take any non-[INV] in your inventory bags. Current population makes force projection worries moot anyway.

However, I'd rather have horses, and skills/classes to take advantage of them. You could still be attacked by bandits, but cover more ground faster (especially if you sticked to roads). And before that, I still want the rest of the Core Rulebook in game (classes, races, weapon types in particular).

Flari-Merchant
On specific opinions about future major direction/projects:

My feeling is that you already have a really great base game. You Just need to polish it up a bit. You have substantial Pillars for interest and thus success. You just need to infuse more variety and exciting play possibility into each.

ECONOMY-
Gathering, crafting, selling, buying. The elements are there already. The system/play for crafting and acquiring skills/materials is here. As a gatherer I can't keep items on the AH. I am just one guy. The economy works. Hard-work/careful-pricing pays off with profit.

EXPLORATION-
This is a hard one because a map can only be so large before it gets ridiculous. Exploration is well served by searching for Gushers, location of Enchant or other raw materials, "other" player holdings/defenses, escalations.

PVE-
Escalations, how they are supposed to work, are almost unique in MMORPG's currently out. You have a base system for creating quests.

PVP/TERRITORY CONTROL-
All of the motivations and ability to engage in both random and reasoned PVP are in the game already. All the tools for alliances/enmity relationships are EXISTING NOW.

META-
The POLITICAL META was there already before the game even started serious coding. It was very vibrant and exiting. Azoth and the limited (still just a baby so far) cash shop has great potential. Excellent community and customer service (best I've seen) are here.

I'm only listing the positives of the above because they are more to my point that there IS A GAME HERE and the point isn't about how much work needs be done on any one of them.
What is Holding You Back Now?

Only cash. Priority ONE. What I mean is that you need to figure out how to generate some serious cash in-flow. You need to focus on reasons for more players to try the game and ways to "hook"/motivate them to stay. What could you do with one more person that could illustrate/animate creatures and outfits, fix bugs or code features from scratch?

Things like:
lower premium or more character "bang for the buck"
player incentives through play rewards or actual cash rewards of some type
alternate ways to earn more xp faster

In this I mean low work(for you)/increased player motivations. I also mean that those "Pillars" need work but that isn't timewise-realistic without funding. Don't lose out on your many unique takes on things already implemented because you can't show them to the world in time to beat the rest of your competitors.