I’d say we really do some things altruistically. I do things for my friends for their benefit without long-term benefit to myself or even an expectation of reciprocity. When someone wants a purely decorative badge or shiny, and you can get it for him quickly, you just do. I get 0xp, he gets something that will never help me. Maybe that is contributing to an ethic of mutual aid that ultimately works to my benefit, but mostly I’m helping my friend there.

Not really, it’s not much different. People do it for the group to succeed, but only so they themselves can succeed. It’s no different than when your manager asks you to take over some system or process that you don’t want. You do it anyway not because you love your company and want it to succeed, but because those in authority said they needed it, and you thought it would help you get head. It’s the same in wow. You do it for the group, you might want to help out the group because it’s fun .. but it’s ultimately to help yourself. To see the rest of the game, and to get more dkp to spend on either character.