Yes, there is a connection between the two. Every so often, when I hear something like the 3 Scots homecoming, or some group trooping the colors, and those bagpipes go off, I get all misty-eyed. Then the bagpipes fade away, and I avoid them like the plague for the next year. The mistlands affect me the same way. They get old in a real hurry, whether or not you have the cape.

Sure, some people like them. I respect that.... but.. yeah.... after you place a million torches, and then realize that they don't just remove the fog; they are light sources... with the FPS that goes with a million light sources... you start to get a bit jaded. I suspect most people just raid for materials, and then get the heck out. And the cape? Yeah... you know.... I've never seen that used in the Mystlands. It's always off of the top of a mountain, or sitting in a chair attached to a harpoon line, or parkouring your way around a base because your mates are all farming or fishing or collecting materials, and you're bored as a fish. Most of the time, if you picked the fastest way up, it also turns out to be the fastest way down. Except if you just jump into the water, which is the fastest, easiest thing to do.

The Mistlands are new.... and, IMHO, they are cool for about an hour.... unless you're 13, or you're playing with your dad and you're like a ten-year-old-girl who loves rabbits. But for everyone else... doesn't it feel more than a little bit like having to make a choice between Mistlands and bagpipe music? I think so.