Yeah I think it is tacky to have aviator sunglasses. Boxing gloves could work, assuming that boxing exists in the world.

I'm hoping that the mentioned costume items, as well as the silly "Hunger" event were just places where the developers were simply messing around for the last beta test. The world that has been created for this game is too rich to have it littered with clownish costume items. We already have World of Warcraft for that.

I think the items would detract from the immersion in GW2. WoW on the other hand lost it's aherance to lore along time ago so it would fit in better there.

If they offered cool items in-line with the sytle of the game i'd be more interested then but as-is I won't touch them. The crafting boosters are most likely the things I would purchase if the crafting skill-up curve slows down substiantially toward end game.

All I saw in the shop (cosmetic wise) was a bunch of non-combat crap. The vast majority of it is out of place and I will not buy it. I have no problem with other people spending cash on it.

I would be much more interested in cosmetic armor/weapons that I can utilize in combat. Items that fit the normal theme of the game. 

I think people forget that this is first and foremost a GAME. It's not meant to be taken seriously as if your entirely life depends on it. Remember the multiple blog posts where Anet stated their number one design goal: fun? For some people, having some cool looking shades will be fun. For others, it won't be. That's the beauty of free choice, you don't have to buy them! Heck, rangers have some pets that are amphibious (can go on both land and water), but it makes no sense.

Also remember this is a FANTASY world. Since when do the rules of Fantasy state that we can't have awesome aviator shades? The only rule of fantasy is that there are no rules. When it comes to immersion, I just don't get some people. Some sunglasses ruin your immersion but throwing fireballs in a freaking dress doesn't? 

Also, most games do include pop culture references. GW1 is notorious for it. Heck, polymock is obviously a reference to pokemon. But they include references to many TV shows, bands, songs, etc. In BWE 2, Crippling Shot had the description of: "Shatter your foe's dreams of becoming an adventurer with a single arrow to the knee". These aren't meant to be taken seriously. They are meant to be more of "haha! I see what you did there" moments. 

Aren't these types of items "town clothes" also?  As in you won't see people next to you fighting in events wearing boxing gloves etc

Originally posted by Ramonski7
Things like boxing gloves, teddy bear heads and silly stuff is definitely not my thing. It's the main reason I hate Aion's cash shop! I was hoping for more lore inspired attire like ninja and samurai outfits or a pirate getup...now how they interpret those with their artist would be sweet.

If the cash shop is anything like Aion's, you guys are screwed!   

The stupid stuff is not real important to me but I would rather have 1/2 as much but all lore-appropriate fluff.

Tyria isn't a medieval world. There are no leeches, cupping, skull drilling or otherwise. There are airships, teleporters, tanks, guns... Think more Bas Lag than 1066.