I think that exploring IS fun, and I wouldn't advocate for a change that destroys that. However, I also think that currently there is a large time sink involved in learning where some of the more basic limited equipment is. Having hundreds of hours as a requirement to put myself into a position of parity where gear is concerned is a bit off putting, and I don't have the time restrictions of some players. I think that Isildur made a good point with rarity being a distinguishing perameter, if an expansion were to be made. With the current search I haven't been turned away from exploration. Rather, it has given direction to my exploration. Instead of randomly wandering into an area and walking into aggro mobs 20 levels above me just to learn there isn't anything that I can acquire for some time I instead knew that there was a piece that I can use in the Troglodyte Cave, and I ended up finding three other pieces that will be useful if I roll up a low level arial in the future.

Having recently been the victim of the hoarding prevention code my inclination would be to say that with regards to gear anything that is touched by the anti hoarding code be kept from any item lists. As I mentioned elsewhere in the thread I don't think preps aught to be included in the list. And, of course, no exact locations, just area names. It might just be my opinion, but I don't think this spoils exploration, but rather it gives exploration some direction, as well as shaves time from the amount needed to be competent at gearing oneself.

With regards to the video, I think that spoilers only alter our perception of the spoiled information, not necessarily our enjoyment. It's hard to say whether that an unspoiled perception of the event/story would be more enjoyable than an unspoiled one. I personally am not a fan of spoilers when I'm interested in a story (anyone that spoils a Star Wars or Tarentino movie with earn my ire), yet I see that there are instances where a spoiler could alter my perception of the story in a positive way.

That said, I don't think that the video applies perfectly to this situation. If the item db ruins exploration, then even the little that is there is acting as a spoiler. Personally I think it just mitigates some of the less worthwhile exploration that I could be doing (re: exploring areas that don't help my current situation/character and drain my constitution/experience) and puts me on to areas that I'll benefit from exploring.