[Swampdog]

Running any kinda server isn't easy. It doesn't matter what kind of server you run, if you are going to do it right it takes work. The job of running a server isn't for everyone.. EQ isn't some mud that just has one program with cookie cutter options, it is a complex and diverse world engine with tons of pieces which integrate together how the server op wants them to integrate. In order to have that kinda flexibility, you have to have the extra tools. Hell, that's the beauty of the world we live in today. You don't have to rewrite a database to include in your program. You use what is already there and spend your development time developing the program, not reinventing the wheel so that someone who is too lazy to figure out how to work with the other tools can start a server. I, for one, would much rather see the devs working on functional parts of the server and deal with the extra dos prompts and mysql.

This is NOT the first server environment I've dealt with that has required hand configuration and have had tons that make use of other applications which pop up their own separate windows (some several).

IF, you have the correct client version and you follow the instructions in the How To/Tutorials section you should get minimal errors in building a server. If you get tons of errors and can't do it, you can always play on servers that are here, maybe partner with a server op that is here and has it running to develop your ideas, or go back to EQLive...