I was going to post this in another thread, but decided to create a new one due to this being a little long-winded...
Everyone thinks they have a seperate solution to pet pathing, everybody voices an opinion on what/how/who/etc. it should be done. The reality of it is, it's NOT the actual pet pathing code. In fact, the pets pathing is only broken at all now to compensate for other bad portions of code. I'm sorry to say I'm not sitting in front of a compiler at the moment with the entire source code of AO in front of me (and if I was, nobody would see me again until I ended up fixing it all...) but it's BLATANTLY obvious that the problem lies in the NETWORKING CODE. I'd imagine 100% of AO'ers would suddenly agree with me on these points. Pay close attention to how pets act. Ever noticed them run the opposite direction, then suddenly jerk back? Or seem to "lock up" some place, then suddenly appear where you are? Think back to ANY classes missions... ever rubberbanded? Anyone seen the "Desynch" bug where the client thinks it's in one place, and is showing that place but is in reality in another? Do I even have to mention the poor, defenseless Omni's that suddenly whompa'ed into Tir just a few days ago? You know, I think I've made my point pretty clearly now.
FIX THE NETWORKING CODE FUNCOM!!
and don't just give us a mediocre compensation patch to "help" it. If you have to, REWRITE THE ENTIRE THING. I 100% guaruntee you THOUSANDS of bugs will be fixed, or "helped" to the point where they're no longer annoyances.
P.S. Please, anyone that agrees with me drop a 1-liner in here.