Personally I'd like them to make you reach max level faster but actually balance the game around it, I like using high level spells and abilities more than poking things with sticks, but want to still be challenged at that point. Or just do away with traditional/vertical level progression altogether.

"Leveling up" as a reward is the bane of pacing and growth of challenge in many RPGs. Having your character's abilities grow as you play, even when it doens't make that much sense, has become a mustfor some reason. But it doens't havo to be.

 

I'd be willing to play an RPG where power growth and learning of new skills is directly linked with specific choices, quests and events, instead of generic "experience" and levels.