What's changed? Should I return? New Expansion?

Hey guys. I haven't played FFXI on my main account in almost 3 years now. I'm thinking about returning back and playing again but im unsure.... I'm really interested in FFXIV 2.0 but I can't wait any longer and im growing impatient lol I keep thinking about all the good times I had in FFXI. I have a few questions though...

What changes have been made? If a new character is made will that person be able to actually level and find groups to level? Has leveling changed in anyway? Is the game actually solo-able now? How easy is it now for a new person to start playing? My main character is on phoenix, is that a decent server to be on when population is concerned? Are there link shells still active doing content?

Due to this games age I'm actually rather concerned and some what worried that It's almost some sort of wasteland now. I haven't kept up to date on anything. Can someone just answer some if not all of my questions and fill me in on some of the changes? (My main was a BLU/NIN just fyi throwing it out there)

You will find a lot of answers to the questions you have in this article here and I recommend reading it: http://wiki.bluegartr.com/bg/Returning_to_Vana%27diel

As far as Phoenix server goes, I can't answer what that's like.

Whether you should return or not I can't answer either, but I reckon it's worth a try. And yes there will be a new expansion next month, Seekers of Adoulin, with entirely new zones.

Phoenix is ok, my LS is more social than event but I know of a few good event heavy linkshells, its not a bad server imo, then again I have not been to another server ever so I cant really say its good by compare with others.

I'm on Phoenix, it's a good server. Leveling has never been easier in XI, decent great is pretty easy to get. Most of my XIV LS has joined up on XI and about half started at level 1, and a month later have multiple jobs 99 and many missions done.

So IMO I think you would like coming back, XI has never had more things to do or been more fun.

However, a lot of the things the DEVS are talking about doing, or have recently done has really turned me off. I think the big change I'm seeing between XI and XIV is that XIV they listen to players.

With Beta in just a week or 2 I'm not sure how much you'll get out if XI, The expansion might be fun, or it might ruin the little fun XI has left.

Either way I'm really excited for XIV!

The simple answer: Come back if you want to play, don't come back if you don't. If you quit because something about the game upset you, then whatever it is most likely hasn't changed. If you quit because you didn't have time / got bored, then yes, you probably should, with new stuff here and new stuff incoming, there's definitely some more fun to be had.

There are still plenty of people on every server, so no worries there.