Such imperfections make things fun though! Considering he wasn't actually "killed" (though you might say that doesn't mean so much these days), it leaves the door open for his return. Bringing him back as big character in a non-standard leader position so he can run around and do as he pleases would be pretty cool, though it leaves the question of what would he chase after (along with why didn't he try to reclaim Ironforge's leadership).

I have a good reason for him forgoing his rightful throne: it seems most dwarves have an in-built desire to snap and leave to explore the world according to their preferred area of expertise. Kind of like a race of drunken teenage surfers who think they can make a life exploring the Indonesian coast. Like his brother Muradin eventually adapted to being the king of frost dwarves, mayber Magni, in his near-death experience, retains and even expands his conscience, actually becoming one with the earth, and decides to be an agent of Therazane.

If he's one with the earth, doesn't that mean he's got the Old Gods on speed-dial?

That's exactly what I was thinking: What else has the power and tendency to turn stone to flesh?

The only way I can see Magni coming back is due to the influence of an Old God, in which case he would likely return corrupted (although we probably wouldn't know it immediately), and we would inevitable have to subdue/exorcise/cleanse/kill him. If he then recovered, they could then make use of his experience. If they kill him, they could then play that into unrest among the dwarven populace against Moira just as they're starting to accept her rule.

There's simply no benign power known which could otherwise restore him, especially since the titan artifact is presumably working exactly as intended. It's possible he could somehow become an Earthern, I suppose, although I can't see any interesting/logical storyline coming from that.

Turning something sentient and animate, but mechanical, into flesh isn't quite the same as doing it with solid stone/diamond.

Presumably, anyways. Blizzard can ultimately reason it to work however they wish.

So, apparently, the elementals don't give a damn about Exodar, Darnassus, Undercity, or Silvermoon. Apparently, those guys aren't good enough. :[!

I think this is more for the player's benefit than anything else in fairness.....When the event is in full swing all of the NPC's and city services are locked out until the phasing is complete. Which would suck if you want to use a bank but can't for 20mins while you hope people can kill the elementals. What if you went to Darnassus hoping to avoid the event, but land in the middle of it? It would be you, some NPCs and a couple of squirrels vs the Elementals.....that would never work due to how dead Darnassus is at the best of times.

For the Alliance, Ironforge and Stormwind are the two most used capital cities; Ironforge because it is nice and quick to get to the bank/Auction house, in addition you have a short flight to Menethil to catch a boat to Northrend if your HS is on Cooldown. Stormwind, because you have easy flight to Duskwood (for Karazahn), Rebel camp (for ZG), the harbour to get to Kalimdor & Northrend and like IF quick access to the Bank/AH. Whereas, the Exodar is a nightmare to navigate and in the middle of bloody nowhere, Dranassus is a 'mare to navigate too (also in the back of beyond). With these two being little used they make sense to be left out of the event to encourage those who want to avoid it to port there when they need an AH instead.

I cannot speak for the Horde, not being of that faction. However, at least with the Undercity being left untouched you have a MAJOR central city which you can use without interruption during the invasion. Then you have silvermoon which what I have seen is rarely used anyway.
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Coming back to Magni; I think it would be awesome if his petrification by the tablet is a direct method of communion with the Titans. A way of warning them of the disaster facing Azeroth. We know the Titans don't much care about Azeroth anymore, but they may give Magni some insight into how to combat the Old God influence and leave him as a newly transformed Earthen. While Thrall is being setup to be JesusChristSuperStar even the Messiah could do with some insider info to help in the big Fight. Armed with Magni's new knowledge (and a new Hammer to replace Doomhammer crafted by Magni and imbued with power by Thrall through his connection to the elements) we could stand a chance against Deathwing.

Or more specifically, against Nelfarion the Earth-warder.....we have to remember, he was the Aspect of Earth before he fell and was dubbed the Aspect of Death. As such, he still has an impressive command over the elements in unison with his immense power as a Dragon.

That or Magni can return as a sparkling diamond dwarf, with a diamond replacement for Stoneform. Here's to hoping it will be more than the butt of Twilight jokes.

I am wondering if Blizzard will ever have us interacting directly with the Titans. I think it would be awesome, but from a game and lore perspective, I have to wonder if it wouldn't be better to leave them as nebulous and distant, with interactions through their agents? I see this sort of along the same lines as Sargeras being the (currently known) main baddie; don't see us ever fighting him directly.

I don't think that many of us who started playing the game at launch thought we'd be thrashing the likes of Arthas and Illidan. Sargeras is certainly a possibility too.

I definitely bought the game with the assumption of killing (or redeeming) Arthas at some point, Illidan and Kael'thas weren't as obvious candidates for raid bosses to me. Kael'thas especially seemed like a "good guy" after TFT. I also know a lot of people who considered killing Arthas to be the "end" of WoW, sort of looking at WoW's storyline as Warcraft 4.