I don't know if what I've been seeing is a majority opinion or if it's simply a very vocal minority, but I keep seeing this argument expressed and it's driving me crazy. The simple jist of it is:
"People use damage meters to compare themselves to other players instead of minding their own business and enjoying the game; therefore, a game without damage meters is better."
So let's see if we can break this down. Damage meters are a tool of measurement. I think we can all agree on that, right? Furthermore, those measurements are objective observations rooted in fact. That is to say, the numbers shown on damage meters are reasonably accurate (as opposed to a random number generator that would just make shit up.) So really, a damage meter isn't all that different from say a tape measure or a measuring cup. Are you with me so far?
So logically, the implication is that measuring things is bad. Well if that's the case, then does having a speedometer or a fuel gauge ruin your driving experience? Is it wrong to ask about square-footage when buying a house? If I check my computer to see how much free hard disk space I have, am I taking all the fun out of owning a computer? If I ask someone for the time, am I a jerk for wanting to know how much of the day is left? What if your local electric co. charged you for how much power they "felt like" you had used in a given month?
If measurements are bad, then the corollary is that ignorance is a virtue - which it isn't.
The truth is that there is absolutely nothing wrong with damage meters. It's the behavior of a subset of players who obsess over them that can be annoying. If you want to call those players out and denounce their behavior, I'm with you, but when you blame the damage meters you look like a moron.