I think the only thing a hardcore gamer is interested in is bragging rights and fuel for their shouting matches at each other about who's #1. Whenever a person goes spewing non sense about challenge they're really just saying that they want the gear from those encounters so they can brag. You go and do what you suggest and all you're really doing in ensuring hardcore gamers stick around current zones because it's more efficient. But hey for what it's worth I'm game for it. It'll serve to prove my point.

I really think with Abyssea it has opened things up to go the challenging route. Problem is we the players have opted to bail out on the challenge part. It's our choice to put a MNK up against Rani while everyone else stands comfortably by watching. Really, why bother with designing challenging content if all we're going to do is skip as much of it as possible? It's all talk from people as far as I'm concerned.