What if we altered the thieves class? I realize there are many tasks on the board already. I make this suggestion only to garner the response of the players on an issue I find far past due. The thieves guild, while it has seen changes over the years, remains a relic from a bygone age. I suggest we consider pathing the thieves guild much like what we did with the berserker guild in the past.
Obviously, the current path available for thieves, that which ends with grand master of assassins, is not only well balanced it is also a very viable rp and pk path for a thief. So path number one already exists.
I would like to see added to this a path which ends with a bandit chieftain. Thieves of this path would leave the city streets behind and become little more than highwaymen. They would exchange hide and sneak for camo and quiet movement (but retain detect hidden). They would give up backstab for ambush, dual backstab for fired weapons, and gain their own unique list of traps.
As a final path, I would suggest that we add Strong Arms (Thugs). These would be extremely melee oriented thieves. We could allow this path a few more weapon choices and another defense in exchange for the finesse skills common to both of the other paths (pry, disguise, pilfer). It would take time to develop, but I think it could add diversity and more importantly originality to a class that while functional, has also become predictable.
Well my friends, any thoughts?
I like it. Although it would probably be an expansive coding situation but with the way the coding gurus are whipping up coolness, it is doable.
I like the concept of altering thieves a bit. With our kinda low numbers, playing a thief is boring, honestly. You spend SO much time sitting and waiting. When you do encounter someone, it is SOOOOO much fun, but those times are kinda few and far between..
No, this is not invitation for more thieves. 
I'm all about classes having diversity and selection. your suggestion is a little like how I saw bards... those that you find entertaining the masses versus those that go out traveling and exploring... but I like the concepts you offered with each path... bandits, highwaymen, burglars, muggers, etc. these are all thieves by different means. so, I really like a suggestion that ties in alternate takes on the same profession. sadly, I have nothing really to add. I like the bandit concept more than the thug (mainly because most melee oriented classes could rp a thug, DK's get extortion which falls in-line with what you're saying... though, I'm sure you mean a thug with thief based abilities specifically... maybe extortion among them. I'm just not exactly thrilled by the concept alone, because it seems a bit broad to me.) though, the Bandit concept certainly makes sense to me (not sure they should get detect hidden since their tactic is one for those outside city walls) but it is arguably something a Ranger could rp themselves... sorry, I don't have much to add... thanks for sharing, Croyvern. 
(Faulch is still missed.)
Thieves do have paths, albeit smallish ones. Depending on the traps you choose your playstyle has to change as well, if you want to be most effective.
I like the current thieves and I don't like this suggestion. It seems rather un-original to just remove some skills, add skills from other classes and call it "pathing".