lostforever
SasqWatch
They still haven't figured out a good way to solve this problem.
Personally, I think the way to evolve the genre is to actually ALLOW massive changes to the landscape, but also to implement a sufficiently sophisticated element of simulation and a dynamic AI - where NPCs/monsters would be able to rebuild or repopulate cities and other areas.
EQNext *claims* they will allow you do do this. You can destroy building and stuff but the world will "heal" over time due to various dynamic AI behaviour. For example, if you set fire to forest, the tress will grow back up, or if you destroy an orc settlement, they might move some where else start to rebuild etc. Village might rebuild over time etc.
How this will works in practice is still remains to be seen given that EQNext is pretty much vaporware right now
The main problem is really the players, can their system keep up with player and keep everyone happy.