Vanilla GW1 was a very small game in comparison and not even an actual MMO. It barely had PVE content and it's focus was on small scale instanced pvp matches. The comparison makes no sense.
Both are mmo´s, the implementation of the concept doesn´t change the fact that both are online persistent character rpg´s that allowed you to play with 1000´s of other people.
Doesnt the amount of instancing define what an mmo is? does a subscription?
The only fact i was alluding to was the success both games had, one was incredibly successful the other was not, despite the fact that it was larger, had countless voice overs and an apparently ridiculous amount of pve content.