Producer Communication

[Zyeriis]

You don't talk to the cash cow, lest it become self-aware. FFXI doesn't need to dig itself out of a massive crater of fail, FFXIV does. It's PR more than anything when it comes to FFXIV. Not that they don't listen but still, the newer product (that massively failed at launch) should and will definitely get way more attention to its users than the much older product that they're just milking.

Also, the 2 hour pre-planned maintenance was to implement things they already had done prior to the maintenance, this 8+ hours un-planned maintenance is to figure out a problem and fix it, something that they have NOT done prior to the maintenance.

Did they massively screw up said things? Yes. Should pre-planned maintenance take longer than un-planned (emergency) maintenance? No.