Seems like all the cool kids in the MMO playground are jumping on the F2P fad. Latest is Aion

From what I understand, this game has some fiercely loyal followers. Anyone have any commentary on the experience, given that we all will be able to dive in ouselves Feb. 28?

I'm interested, as any game that lets me fly around an angelic avatar appeals to my senses of free will and justice. Also, the graphics are pretty

Your only allowed to fly in specific areas (though gliding is possible everywhere after level 10)
Also being in the USA your F2P isn't for another month or so sorry, the EU F2P hits on the 28th (with nice friendly/helpful CM's unlike NCsofts) USA is lucky though as they get Aion3.0 while the EU will probs lag by about a month while it's translated into french and german.

I know you were in the beta, is it worth the download? I didn't think it was much better than WOW when I played it a bit at PAX, kind of a Lineage 2-beautiful, WOW game with better default UI. I didn't "fly" but I always assumed that was kind of a gimmick and not especially core to the gameplay.

If you like PVP it's worth it, it's a true PVPVE game (hopefully they'll deactivate the rift debuff that means you do 1/10th normal damage in enemy zones) the flight is fairly intrinsic to the Abyss(main leveling area from 25 on) as it's a) the only way to really get around it and b) a useful trick in PVP (jumping off the edge of a floating island and playing chicken with the death point is a useful way to escape).
In the EU at least they are opening a new server which if your a new player is a VERY good thing (theres many twinks)
But it is an enjoyable game in many ways and a very pretty one at that.