The rates for those who cringe at registering for stuff just to see some basic info:
Server Rates
Experience RatesMonster
7x Blizzlike
Quest
7x Blizzlike
Explore
7x Blizzlike
Item Drop Rates
Gold
6.5x Blizzlike
Poor
3x Blizzlike
Normal
2x Blizzlike
Uncommon
2x Blizzlike
Rare
1.5x Blizzlike
Epic
1.5x Blizzlike
Legendary
1.5x Blizzlike
Artifact
1.5x Blizzlike
Referenced
1.5x Blizzlike
Level Cap: 100
Reputation gains rate: 5x
I honestly am baffled how millions of others can bear to play a game that's nothing but one big grindfest with those abominable rates... seriously, I might as well watch paint dry, or corn grow. Now, I used to play on a server where the rates of everything was at LEAST 10x, and I think exp was 15x. Back then, it seemed reasonable because I had not been exposed to anything else, but these rates are better. It's a compromise between unholy grindfest and playing a game without taking too fucking long to get to level 30. And the traveling early on is just god awful, but I'll get to that later.
Enough ranting XD
Since the server is TBC, it's designed for a level cap of 70. But since the level cap is 30 above that, stuff was done. Namely, populating the summit of Mount Hyjal in the present day. It has been converted into a zone for players level 80+. Now, there is a hub, and that part of the summit isn't 80+ itself, you have to wander farther into the center of the zone. Monster levels range from mid 70's to upper 90's, and most of them are elites, and hit pretty fucking hard even on tanks.
I won't mince words, there ARE items that retail players ("if they know their stuff", whatever the hell that means) would consider overpowered, but there are things to consider:
1) These items all require level 80
2) They are quest rewards from a quest that consists solely of collecting 100 tokens (similar to badges of justice, except they're not called that) for a single item.
3) Said tokens can be acquired by completing daily quests
4) These quests consist of unholy grindfests that put even Blizz's developers/quest designers to shame. So don't expect to get one custom item on the first day.
5) "OP" items (but not oh-my-god-I-can-one-shot-illidan OP) are one of the perks of private servers.
Quests, zones, npcs/monsters, items. There are custom things of each. Oh, and two new instances are being worked on. Stormwind Vault, and the beta version of Scarlet Monastery. They're both full-fledged instances, they're just empty and inaccessible normally.
... I forgot, DOUBLE TALENT POINTS. No longer are you restricted to barely being able to pwn with pouring all your points into a single tree. Hell, by level... 72, you can have 40 points in all three. My level 85 warlock is spec'd for Affliction, Demonology, and Destruction. With a few extra points in Destruction (makes for killer DPS >;D)
Select few players who've shown to be friendly and helpful and all that also get the privilege of a teleport account. I can be on Darkshore one second, take about 3-5 to type ".tele Tanaris" and boom I'm there. I myself have one and holy shit does it reduce the frustration by 84.452634591234610234%
... I forgot where I was going with this but I think you get the point now.
EDIT: Also THIS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89H8hsXMPL8
Although I'm certain it's probably possible to solo Magisters Terrace (non-heroic) with a Death Knight. However, I'm not sure if it's possible to solo heroic Magisters (on retail).