Vistas in Guild Wars 2 - Interesting, Challenging, and/or Annoying?

This weekend I am playing some Guild Wars 2 as part of the final beta weekend before the game comes out next month.  I started as a Sylari this time, as it appeals to me the most and this is the first beta weekend it was an option.  The first new thing I noticed was an odd double triangle symbol as part of the things for map completion.  This symbol stands for Vistas.

Vistas are kind of like Points of Interests and Waypoints in that you complete them by reaching them, although you actually interact and see a cutscene to make them count as completed.  Unlike waypoints and most points of interests, though, they are mostly jumping challenges.  Basically, you have to use jumping to follow the path up to them.  I found a couple in the Caledon Forest that were easy, but all the others I have encountered have proved annoying and frustrating.

I guess it is kind of nice that the Vistas bring more purpose to jumping being in the new Guild Wars game, but to me it is just plain annoying.  There is a reason I tend to give up on platform games and do not like them.  I just plain stink at jumping.  It pretty much does not matter the game.  I just cannot seem to time jumping right or control the character correctly midair.  I guess I will be wasting hours trying to complete maps when Guild Wars 2 is officially out or just consider them completed personally by ignoring the vista part.

What do you think of Vistas?  Do jumping challenges so integral to completion belong in a MMORPG?

Guild Wars 2: My Intial Thoughts about Half through 1st Beta Weekend

Since the servers are down, I thought now would be a good time to share my initial thoughts on Guild Wars 2 as it is now nearing halfway through the first public beta weekend.

Pros:

• Gaining XP from Everything: You can gain XP from all kinds of actions from gathering wood (axes on specific trees), unlocking points of interest, unlocking waypoints (basically portals that you can than transport back to), completing group or world events (yeah, and sometimes I do like nothing other than be in the right place at the right time), and of course completing quests and killing enemies
• Instances: At first it was weird having other people out in what is like the environment part of Guild Wars, but in the end it is cool as others can revive you (yes, XP is gained for you reviving others!) without you needing to have a formal party.  Plus, you can have a lot of help with group and world events.
• Group Events: Great way for some more XP.  Depending on how well the group mission is done, you get Gold, Silver, or Bronze and more or less XP and rewards.  Sometimes it seems based on your active participation, but other times I just wander into the area of the event and seem to be rewarded Gold level on completion.
• Switching Skills: You can easily switch skills right from the skill bar.  This also means you can do the switching wherever you are, although I have tried when in battle.  However, see cons below as I also have some skill cons.

Cons

• No Click to Move: I still am having trouble getting used to not being able to click on a guy and go to them or attack.  Definite con that I hope changes.
• Armor Repair/Naked: Okay, admittedly this is kind of funny, especially when playing in person with others and hearing and making the comments, but it is also kind of annoying to have to keep repairing.  I guess it is like death penalty, so something I do not totally mind, but more a negative than a positive.
• Party Set Up: It is weird that I can be in the same party as someone, yet in two different lands or sometimes instances.  Makes it hard to do stuff together with friends, although the blue dot is nice to see even when we are far away from each other and want to try to join back up.  Hoping districts and such exist in final release, so you really can have parties and do missions together easily.
• Unlocking Skills Slots: You do not start with all skill slots, but rather you have to unlock them at certain levels.  I sure do not remember this with the original Guild Wars and do not like it.  Also, kind of weird getting used to the fact that most are tied to what weapon you are using and spending on your set up you might have less than the max 5 of the left side skills.
• Skills Slot Specific: Yeah, you can easily switch what is in the slot, but kind of odd that I cannot put one of my slot 6 skills (currently purchased 3) in my slot 7 spot.  Sure, eventually I will probably get something better for there, but does seem to leave the need for more constant skill setting up, which I have never been much into considering I rarely mess with mine in the original, although I really ought to better maximize my capabilities better in that one.

That's it for now.  Hoping servers are back up soon, as I am really enjoying it so far.

What are your thoughts on Guild Wars 2 so far?