I'm not actually saying it is, so you're confusing my point a little.

To clarify, I'm merely comparing the act of "grinding levels" and the cyclic nature of repetition, to such given treadmill type gameplay found within most common MMOs.
Obviously it's different in Dark Souls and I've made that point very clearly here and in my other posts.
The requirement for grinding is relative and dependent upon your skill as a player and partially the validity of your character build.

There's really nothing MMOish about DS at all imo.

Well, you need to put in a few more hours yet, I reckon.