hpv

Then you'd be missing out big time.  I'm not sure I've ever been so impressed with a game after 20 minutes as I was with Borderlands.  I'm extremely tempted to say I was even more blown away than I was by Super Mario 64, but it's hard to say for sure since the Toys R Us wasn't rocking a kickass soundtrack and a giant crowd.  And crazy ass automatic shotguns weren't dropping left and right out of goombas.  This game is SICK, son!
 
If you're worried about people stealing all the drops just play with your buddies.  You'll have more fun with friends anyway.

I talked to Randy Pitchford for about 20 minutes yesterday while I was online to play and I asked him about the character customization (sorry, no sex changes).  He made several really good points about it and how it's a loot drop game about guns and they're not into playing dress up.  Clearly they've thought about it and from the painfully brief 20 minutes I got to play it they've made the right decisions.  It's a blast to play and every time a weapon drops you get that "holy shit I've got to shoot this mfer at something RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!" feeling that you get maybe a handful of times in other games.
 
I did ask about the trading function and they said that it's not in the game, but they are planning to do some substantial support after launch so obviously it could make it in eventually if enough people want it.
 
Gunner: There are actually a couple third person shots.  I saw someone playing as the really big roided up looking guy and he has some sort of power rush attack that went third person while he pummeled a dude.  No need for dress up for it, but it did look SICK!