There are indeed a great many refined tastes that have emerged over the years as, stated above.
I myself come from a Pen and Paper Background; I migrated from Advanced Dungeons and Dragons into the later editions and did a hard stop at 3.5, like most.
I agree that a Persistent World can have several problems in terms of repetitive activities that lead to a break in immersion. I think there is a special blend of setting choice, design, and play style that can compliment one another in this regard.
The Persistent World I have designed is one that takes advantage of a setting that has repeatable challenges, and my own attitude that nothing is sacred. For example, night spawns are not always in the same places, and the foes might be deserters who have ample reason to be there, and your PC can take actions to remove these NPC deserters from the game entirely.
I think many PW builders have been guilty of the sin of their monsters, dungeons, and other challenges being called too precious; more precious than player fulfillment. In other words, if you come to my server and slay every last goblin in existence? I'm going to acknowledge that the same way a pen and paper DM should, instead of ignoring your efforts or impact and keeping my goblins to the point of nausea.
In fact, all of our plots are steam-driven, I tend to run events from 6pm EDT right til about midnight, consisting of various elements. PCs in my plots might be required to travel, investigate, ask questions, learn, have a victory, or suffer defeat, etc. You can probably avoid or flee from combat most times, but as in pen and paper, combat is most rewarding. Some of our most enjoyable sessions have been smaller groups or even single players taking decisive action and affecting the course of events whether it was simply affecting the flow of information or conquering a rogue power.
I'm a bit old fashioned so I greatly value the cohesiveness that emerges in a solid party, and the depth that can be reached with PC generated plots and dynamics. To bring these considerations and general mindset into a Persistent World to me means to create a place where people can enjoy the experience of authentic, kitchen-table style D&D and do so together, regularly, one would hope. '>