[Rant] This game's practically dead in terms of actual content.

Let's bring this to context, the point isn't we need more damage, the point is we need a smaller gap, this is a convenient free way to do so for the lower end of the game, which is the largest complaint in this thread. It barely benefits if not alters the higher end part of the game, so really I wouldn't call it a power creep rather than an averaging.

But it actually does increase though, the more upgrade options you have. Which is how potential, bonus potential, star force/enhancements, nebulites, etc. all have introduced problems to the game and is also a deterrent to party play. Notice here we're talking about a damage gap, not a defense gap, an accuracy gap, or an HP gap, in which normal MMORPG games structure the gameplay around (at least for anything combat related including party play). For Maple, only the damage gap matters - and we have a ridiculously large one.