[Next_rim]

This could be attributed to the fact that DotA is in fact not melee.

Dota is a melee with one unit. Or, in some cases, several units. The range of things player has to do is narrowed down to positioning one unit, watching 5 enemy units, and using *achem* 4 abilities + attacking. Dota is very tactical, true, but so is a melee game. Dota economy is inferior to any melee, as your income is a direct result of your micro. Two complicated elements combined into one = less skill required.

The only difference is the teamplay element, which turned dota into what we know today. But what it really does, imho, is taking away single player skill and diminishing its significance in favor of teamplay. In a fairly equal game, strong team can carry a noob, but strong player can't carry a team of noobs.

Required teamplay is the biggest reason I quit WoW actually, I didn't want to rely on 24(39 pre-expansion) other people to play the game.