As of 21/06/2024, I recognized that I'm having issues with addiction to World of Warcraft Classic (currently called as Season of Discovery). I'm interested in reading up on game design as to how this could've generated as much compulsion from my end.
From my perspective, it's been mostly based on padding. the distance you have to cross on foot is pretty gigantic. You don't get to speed up except for a few specific circumstances, and the general availability of getting to purchase a steed begins after the 40 hours played mark, where you've likely levelled up to 40th level, and perhaps accumulated sufficient money to actually train and buy a mount.