P - Party mechanics

For someone who wants to play an MMO with other people, why does it always feel like you're getting penalized?

Whether it is having to deal with the fucking retard to get something done or losing experience when you're hanging with a buddy the system is fucked.  How have we gone so long without revolting against this system?  Sure, the kills are faster and easier, but you need way more of them (especially for the sake of drops).  You are sharing money and any other loot as well.  What if you are both classes that otherwise were not great at soloing?  What if we were playing an old MMO where you couldn't just go and solo everything and needed a group for decent experience?

It is kind of sad to see so many games drop the ball on the party system.  No one is trying to change the formula because they feel like it works.  I am not disagreeing, I just feel that at some point we need to consider that a change may need to be made.

If nothing else we need someone to try something new or breathe life into the sad and dying old system.  We have again stopped progressing because we think we have it right.  Ten years from now, we may realize how wrong we had it.