Tldr; the game is about horizontal progression.
There is no level 1 magic vs level 99 magic. Gear is going to be inconsequential, and easy to reacquire. Thinking otherwise will just set you up for disappointment.
I’ll be honest, it’s something I’ve never encountered before. And if done incorrectly there may not be enough to keep me coming back. However, I’m willing to give them a chance.
Face of mankind was fairly similar though. Gear was pretty inconsequential, and there were no skills whatsoever. And I truly enjoyed that game. But, you could increase your combat ability by just being a better player. It was all about true skill, which seems difficult in this style of game.