It's small and doesn't change game performance... but still:
"When asked to expand upon a button found by sifting through the Lich King beta's data files named "Paid Character Customization," [World of Warcraft production director J. Allen] Brack initially hesitated to give any answer at all. Several questions later, he went back to the matter, saying that he could, in fact, confirm that World of Warcraft would eventually have some form of paid character customization, though they themselves hadn't yet worked out any details."
It seems only a few months ago Blizzard was denouncing the microtransaction model.
Oh wait.... they were. Then again they were talking about "items" and not character customization (name, sex, hairstyle, etc.). Really what it is, is a glorified name change. I've always been slightly against those as a player as I feel like it's an easy way to take a bad reputation and "start over" so to speak, but without the social penalty of having to create a new character. Then again, it is a game and all about havung fun and choices (and ultimately making money) so it's understandable.