Ranged Weapons - why can't we see them equipped?

[Bubian]

Title says it all, one feature I liked about FFXIV was that I could see my bow equipped, when running around town etc. Is this possible for FFXI too? Sorry if this topic has already been discussed, but it's something that has always nagged at me about this game.

[Kristal]

Isn't it because of PS2 limitations and/or clipping issues with 2-handed weapons? The variety of ranged weapons and their location on the body might also take a role. You'd wear a crossbow on your back, a bow over your shoulder, a gun or chakram on your side, an animator in your offhand, etc.

[Laciante]

It would be nice to see the /ra weapons on our body, and it's not like there isn't precedent: that one Windurstan Mithra from the rank missions line of CS wears her bow out in the open...

The clipping issue might not be as much of a problem - who says we can't wear multiple things on our backs next to each other (in the case of RNG and COR w/ staves, SAM with polearm); and thrown weapons, like chakram and shuriken come from right above our butt, so it wouldn't get in the way of having swords or daggers on our hips (for BLU and DNC).
Then for things like the stat items and animator, which one is likely never to use for throwing, they could leave it the way it is - invisible.
of course, there's always the excuse of PS2 limitations

[Thonuwan]

Why stop with weapons? Do you think we should also be able to see what back pieces we have equipped? For me I think having that much extra stuff being visible might slow down my computer quite a bit.

[Kristal]

Then for things like the stat items and animator, which one is likely never to use for throwing, they could leave it the way it is - invisible.

Animators cause TP loss like a weapon. So, if it equips like a weapon, it gets to be shown like a weapon.

[Laciante]

but it's never used like a weapon...

unless you want to make the argument that the automaton is how it's used as a weapon, in which case, you have your visual manifestation already