This game looks lovely but I just cannot deal with this character movement.

After playing other MMOs, to come here and be locked into this clunky framework is just going to kill my enthusiasm

IS this it - like it or leave? Is there any hope for a more normal movement and camera angle?

I don't think anyone here can answer this question. Even playing Skyrim, the movements were clunky and such. Perhaps as a fix later on, but i don't think its a huge deal for most people, especially those that play 1st person.

Not sure whats the issue here. Every MMO doesn't have the same control scheme. You still move forward and back and strafe with the keyboard and turn with the mouse. Its closer to how it is in FPS sure but not at all a foreign concept for an MMO.