The biggest cause for loss in playerbase at the moment is the insane rate of progression in which all aspects of the game can currently be completed. You can seriously accomplish anything that any pre abyssea FFXIer ever had in 1/100 of the time investment. Casuals are the minority and should be treated as such. You come and go we tolerate you and even enjoy you if you're not a tool. But in the end you go so why should the game be shaped around you? I'm not trying to be offensive just realistic. The game wasn't designed to be played an hour a week. No MMO is, not even FPS's. Try it, see how much fun you have if you play <insert random FPS here> an hour a week. You will spend your hour far more frustrated and accusing everyone and their mom of cheating, even the guy who went 5/17 but killed you 3 times, than any time you ever were on FFXI.
BTW I'm not some epeen HNM bot camper prick from the olden days upset I cant sell my HNM drops to people who dont bot. I'm just a guy who doesnt want to see FFXI become <insert random f***book app>.