apparently theres a future expansion that super buffs mage pets. this buff was kept in.
this is the reason for the mage pet zergs.
Either way, I've been ignoring the progression and just playing for nostalgia sake. its been fun regardless and i continue to keep playing.

the true 1999 experience is in the p99 server, but they have a strict anti multiboxing rule and so thats whats turned me away from it. that and its low base population. due to the low populatin, its really difficult to really find gruops and thus boxing would be a great fit, but meh.