The Dreaded Combat/Skills Hotbar

I was hoping for the 'card deck' system announced or 3D combat action implemented naturally using the new rpg combat-standard system implemented since Demon Souls; however, my worst fears were realized when the developers announced that if the 'card-based' system fails to work they will return to the bog-standard hotbar and I for one couldn't stomach that from the guy who bought so much innovation to the rpg-gaming world.

Why?
Because the developers HAD to have multi-player, yet so many of our current problems with the game stem from trying to make it work in multi-player.

Can't we go back to the drawing board and make the game either single player or at most party-based co-op?