Ironically I have a couple of characters who are insane/powerhungry enough that the consequences of becoming slaves to the Well would have been meaningless to them if it meant they had uber-power right NAO! 
But seriously yeah it is interesting how the Devs handled the backstory to explain how we are going to be different kinds of Incarnates from Statesman and Lord Reculse. I figure they just came up with the "fast path versus slow path" concept just to help drive home that difference.
Yeah maybe it was also to poke a bit of fun at the players out there who are unwilling to work a little to earn big rewards, but I don't think that was the Devs' prime motivation or message. More a funny coincidence. 
Loth 50 Fire/Rad Controller [1392 Badges] [300 non-AE Souvenirs]
Ryver 50 Ele� Blaster [1392 Badges]
Silandra 50 Peacebringer [1138 Badges] [No Redside Badges]
--{=====> Virtue ♀
I didn't read it like that, but now that you mention it, it is pretty funny.
Still, I'd probably do the quick way once on one character, if only to get to speak in big golden letters once in a while.
Aegis Rose, Forcefield/Energy Defender - Freedom
"Bubble up for safety!"
Yes, because subsuming yourself to the Well worked so wrong for Statesman, Recluse and so forth... the minute the mission presented a possible choice of getting it all in one fell swoop or pacing yourself I instantly knew the former wouldn't be an option available for players. It wasn't so much disappointment as it was ambivalence.
Like the lovable succubus up there, I too have toons that wouldn't blink once about getting it all right now. Fortunately, my main Hero and Villain aren't that type.
As a metaphor, yes, I can see where you're coming from TonyV. 
Rabbits & Hares:Blue (Mind/Emp Controller)Maroon (Rad/Thermal Corruptor)and one of each AT all at 50
MA Arcs: Apples of Contention - 3184; Zen & Relaxation - 35392; Tears of Leviathan - 121733 | All posts are rated "R" for "R-r-rrrrr, baby!"|Now, and this is very important... do you want a hug? COH Faces @Blue Rabbit
Incarnate mission spoiler below...
So I've been seeing all of these posts and threads about how long it will take people to respec out of Fitness, move purple IOs around, complaining and wanting the devs to changes various systems to accommodate huge changes to characters, and even a thread about how inconvenient it is to have to run a mission arc to unlock Incarnate content. Everyone is so anxious to get all of their stuff on all of their characters, right now, with little time invested, no consequence, and no cost to their desires!
Am I the only one that got a good chuckle during the arc when the player is presented a "choice" of drinking in all of the Well's power and being consumed by it, or taking it in a slow trickle, training slowly over time to be able to handle this new power? I can't help but wonder if the developers are trying to sneak in some kind of message there. Even if not, I can't help but think it's funny, and wonder how many people got mad or were disappointed when they found out that having their will--maybe even their very soul--consumed by the Well wasn't an option.
It just seems a bit, I don't know, metaphorical, maybe even allegorical.
We've been saving Paragon City for eight and a half years. It's time to do it one more time.
(If you love this game as much as I do, please read that post.)