Hehe, I came from a Galaxy far far away, a time that seems very long to me now and I understand what you're suggesting. My first reaction was to compare and cry for some skills.... but as I was a real die hard there and seen for almost three years the game changing and the consequences to these changes, I abstained from posting wish lists and try see why some things are not in here and if they are really omissions or they are better absent. Let's see this list a bit:
1. Missions. They can be a bit mroe immersed in the lore, I confess. But as I am no mission lover, and never was, maybe I leave others to express opinions.
2-3. In Ryzom avoiding combat is a skill at least as important as combat itself. One of the most brilliant and close to reality ideas the creators ever had. It has under it the meaning that it is not enough to have big muscles, or big guns to survive. You have to be clever enough to not engage in a combat you cannot win, and you are clever enough to run (and know where to run) before you got so wounded that you cannot anymore. Breaking aggro is possible in Ryzom, only it's not that easy peasy as typing /peace.
4. Maskscent is not necesary here. It is replaced by something much less artifficial: the knowledge of places and of mobs. Scout is a real proffession here. Ask around who can do treks. Ask them to trek you and concentrate all your attention on what they do. They have different startegies. Some are hugging the walls, some are running right through the middle, others combine. SOme are based on clearing a path by force, others are just waiting, others know so well the migration of the animals packs that they kno where they will find them in a certain season. Scout is an actual proffession here, one of the hardest, based on loads of experience, space orientation and senses accuracy. Ryzomers don't need maskscent really, it would spoil lots of the fun.
5. There are some nice things to loot. Aen's armor, Heffaeh jewels and so on. But what Rushin sais is perfectly right. The craft system is amazing. Not everything has been discovered yet in all the possibilities a crafter has. More loot would compromise this. But maybe your need for loot is caused by the pretty poor market on vendors. To this I would agree. Creating shops in appartments, and the ability to invite there people or give free access would help.
6. Tipping from a distance was nice. Still... we are not in a post-modern society but rather in an ancient one... I would just go for letting a player have sort of post office box. Where he could allow others to drop things for him.
7. I never liked making pets fight for you but I've heard loads of players enjoying this... anyway, if it may come true, it should be taken in consideration with most care as it can easily unbalance the fighting game mechanics. Do not forget lots of elementals are pretty sensitive to clsoe combat attack. Now a master ele + fighting pet could be an unwished FOTM.
8. I am editing because I have already confused the numbers but nm, I am one of the most distracted homins I know anyway

) I said somewheer else why I am against waypoints. Waypoints, same as vehicles ease too mcuh orienattion and their direct and indirect consequence is that players never realise anymore what looks like the world they are playing in. Most of the graphic artists work is lost, and all the game becomes sooner or later a race to take your levels fast.
9. "Combat postures like stand, kneel, prone add a bit of strategy to the game. Conceal and ambush commands would also be fun." Something I agree 99%. Strategy of the game is very complex already, and creating actions as well as using them in a good sequence (I don't think there are correct sequences, only good or bad depending on context) makes your character unique. But animations mainly in melee are basic at most. As an old TKM in SWG I miss that a lot. And some more animation to the poor melees and healers could not hurt anyone, mainly fi you compare to the elemental portofolio of images that is quite impressive.
But over all I wish... eh, I would only wish Ryzom be successful and live for a very long time
Have fun, SWG-er, and open yourself to a totally new world.