From a realistic standpoint. When do you expect Cataclysm?

[Fursphere]

End game raids are generally expected to hold the player base for ~6 months. (Naxx went live 11/08, figure 1-2 months for player base to level and start raiding, Ulduar went live 6/09, ICC 12/09 - see a pattern?)

3.3.3 is expected to go live very soon. (maybe next week?)

3.3.5 is adding a new raid instance. I bet it'll be mid to late April on the release - maybe even May. They're probably banking this will hold players for 4 - 6 months (typical raid life). (ICC = Dec ... +6 months = May... wow, Ruby Sanct is on the horizon? talk about predictable!)

The "opening" event for the next expansion will last approx 2 - 4 weeks. You've all seen the Gnomergon / Echo Isles information.

So - ICC + BG LFG System + Ruby Sanct + Cat. Opening Event = ~ 1 full year of content (lolwut?)

Start the timer when ICC was released in December.... now do the math. With all these things on the horizon - November / December at the VERY earliest. I think its pretty obvious at this point.