Yeah I seriously doubt that respecing will come without consequences of some kind. I don't think it will be easy to just respec into a mage for a certain area and then change back.
Maybe they could make it so that respecing the first time costs the same amount of souls it would cost to get to that level in the first place. The the second time it costs twice that. Then the third costs twice of that, etc. That way you could respec, bit there's still a certain sense of commitment to things.
I'm glad that respecing is in, but it definitely should come with consequences.
Oh awesome, now you can't escape the people invading you with perfectly put together PvP builds and high level gear. This isn't fun, this is DARK SOULS! Praise the sun!
There are stat requirements for equipment now.