Prior to the August 2, 2022 update, the Raptor could be unlocked in the course of the first Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire story mission, Sparking the Flame, or in Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons by talking to Strigidae in Cobble Ward in New Kaineng City. It was common for players who owned Path of Fire but did not yet have a level 80 character to
Buying HoT with PoF isn't the same as "buying HoT" like other people did. They paid $60 for the expansion and that slot. Path of Fire was half the price at its most expensive and later gives away HoT for free with purchase, so no slot because the expansion was technically retired (hence the give away of the outfit and other related items) and doesn't exist anymore beyond the unique Masteries.
Some people don't like the level process. You can use it on a alt if you want to level your main the regular way. If you'd like a mount, you can use the 80 boost on a class you want as a alt then do the first story line of PoF to get a mount which you can then use on your main while leveling it.
Eat XP boost food. Use guild banner for another XP boost. (If one is available) Hit Diessa Plateau and start kill everything on the map especially the yellow mobs. Rinse and repeat. The longer mobs are alive on the map the more bonus XP they will give. You can get around 10 levels in an hour this way.
ogASDK.