1-don't have to call him stupid for no real reason.
2-it plays exactly like an mmo just in a shooter style and isn't officially labeled an mmo for a reason
3-he's right in saying that purple should stop complaining about slow progress.
People are too used to being able to beat campaign, hop into extras and have everything available or unlocked quickly. Is it a grind to get gear right now? Yes. But that's the point that they are going for..they're practically forcing you into playing more and more of this game because that's how a lot of peoples minds work: we want to see our character we invested time into become great. Without that the game would be designed entirely different and just be a different variation of halo or cod.
They're breaking the mold for a shooter game, kudos to them. Either adapt and gear up, or gtfo cus they're not changing the core of the game.
How does it not? You run around from a starting area, killing monsters doing quests (story or patrols) kill monsters to get loot that's randomly generated. Then as you progress through and beat the main storyline (albeit a short one and not a continuous one like most mmos) you hit endgame content. In said endgame content you work with factions to gain rep, earn currencies, and start to try getting better gear. Not to mention it unlocks strikes (instances) and raids. Both of which have a chance of getting you upgrade gear.
All this to eventually have a strong enough character to eventually do harder raids (heroic raids just like wow) which have the best chance of high tier gear.
All that time and effort into building your character, killing mobs, seeking out randomized loot, doing instances dailies and pvp, somehow doesn't sound like an mmo?
Elaborate with your "it plays nothing like an mmo" a bit?