Because your second idea screws over melee stealth attackers and almost completely eliminates the possibility of escape, making stealth a suicide sniper skill only, as far as combat is concerned.

or simply people who are very good realize that certain skills can be abused and need some balancing... Like for example pro players, who earn money in a competitive PvP games can clearly notice that some abilities on some items/abilities are too good for cost or counter options available in their game, even though there is a big amount of mediocre players playing the same arguing that they are balanced, because they want to -pwn- noobs in PvP, while vs very good and pro players they will still fall short...

Personally I can live with this system as it is. It will surely affect my playstyle a bit, to be able to deal with this effectively, but for me it's a small adjustment. However, I can guarantee you that there will be a lot of whining about stealth gankers once the game will go live.

you have two skill bars and weapon choices, you can also use invis to close the gap, you have racial and armor passives and there are things like consumables (alchemy - invis potion anyone?). I did not see however a stealth/invis detection potions.

Isn't there always whining about stealth gankers, even when the game doesn't technically even have stealth?

So your solution to the melee stealth option being blown away by the increased detection is "Pick another weapon or drink so many invisibility potions that you vomit on him"? Sorry, that doesn't cut it.

In other words, you prefer to have a system where a guy in HA can sneak up on you to melee range for free without similarly cheap ways of detecting him?

If you're stupid enough to stand still or out of cover in an unsafe place so someone can slowly creep up on you it's your own fault. Keep moving and when you stand still go into stealth and creep away behind a rock or something. The only time I have been hit from stealth is when I was stupid. I don't ride in straight lines in dodgy areas, I use sprint to cross paths. I stay off paths. i watch where battles are and anticipate the line of return players will use when killed. I consult my map either from stealth cover or while moving. Knowing you can be hit from stealth any time you're careless is just an added frisson of fun.

Yes. Yes I do. First, if he's in all heavy armor, then he's not getting the armor stealth bonus already, so I'm more likely to detect him anyway. And second, if I don't have magelight going to detect stealth, why shouldn't he be able to sneak up behind me like that? Stealth - Magelight. Ability - Counter. Pretty cut and dry on that point.

Absolutely.

'Stealth - Magelight. Ability - Using Brain - Counter. Pretty cut and dry on that point.'