Log Horizon is what SAO wants to be when it grows up. The hero doesn't conquer the other guilds; he does a leveraged buyout to take them over. The crafting guilds realize they can build new technology on top of the game mechanics. With careful contract drafting, some of the game's rules can be overridden. This is way beyond the hack and slash of SAO. Looking forward to Season 2. Season 1 ends with a clear indication of a next phase.