The thing about WoT and almost every MMORPG/FPS ever made is grind. GRIND, GRIND, GRIND, an then GRIND some more.
I played during beta where they out free gold every day. For about 2 months, I got up to Tier 5, Tier 6, and Tier 2 in the RU, GE, and US trees respectively. If I put all that together in one branch, I'd probably be only at Tier 8 or at the MOST, at the very bottom of Tier 9.
Tier 1-2 Is where you get a taste of action, because tanks here are your level and easily killed.
Tier 3-5 is filled with 88mm guns going against BB guns. The only you CAN do is scout, run into the enemy base and suicide, giving your artilery enough time to bring down their lasers.
Tier 6-8 starts to get even, but only SOMEWHAT, certain tanks (like the Jagdpanzer IV) is uterrly outmatched by IS and IS-3.
Tier 9-10 is what most people try to aim for, the point where you actually have FUN and no more grinding, no more retarded matchups, but then you feel sorry for the sucker who's matched up with you that still has his 88mm L/70.
After beta, when they reset everything, I just couldn't bring myself to grind all that again. Without in-game gold, you sit there for 2 weeks getting to a tier 3 tank and not even enough for a camo net.
If you have gold however, things run fine and you actually HAVE FUN, you don't worry about dying because you make up for it in credits earned.
Just another grindfest MMO, that have a great gameplay, but you have to sit there and grind for 1 month+ to get anything decent.