I really enjoyed Abyssea. Some people will say that is because that was the game in easy mode, and perhaps they are right. However, I played every day for the year or so from when abyssea got rolling (2nd expansion bringing about AF3), tri-boxing and wishing for more. I helped with many empy weapons and countless +2.

Voidwatch is evil. The drop rates and methods of obtaining gear are unkind to put it mildly. This is a return to old-school dynamis, just under the name of something different. Dynamis was originally a linkshell based, alliance worthy event, where drop rates were horrible, everyone got trolled with bst gloves x4, and the common drop (currency) was in such high demand that the event was repeated over and over out of need well past anyone's desire for armor.

How many people talk about doing Dynamis-Xarcbard for 3 months trying to get thief gloves? (Before the multiple dynamis revamps of the last couple years) This is what we have returned to with voidwatch. It is a linkshell-based (although more shout friendly then dynamis was imo), alliance level event where your gear drops are random and the common drop (heavy metal plates) is in high demand for someone's weapon (or shield, or horn, etc).

The lack of progress is de-motivating to me. I've cancelled 2 of my 3 accounts, and don't enjoy voidwatch because there is no way to make (well, feel like you are making) progress. On a bad night in abyssea, you walk out with some KI and can try again. On an average night you walk out with some full pop sets ready to go or you are 3/6 on some hand +2 that you are working on.

The progress is palpable and measurable.

The lack of perceptable progress (with the exception of upgrading your abyssite) is frustrating. I don't mind doing 100 x nm to get someone (or myself) a piece of gear (Hello Sobek). I mind doing 100 x NM and not knowing if you're going to be done.

This is my single greatest frustration with FFXI's direction and the way the devs handle the game. I would very much like the cure potency/cure casting time body piece that comes from voidwatch (the Rare/EX one). However, based on what I've seen so far, I have a better chance of stabbing myself in the heart with a steak knife and living then I do of obtaining that item within a reasonable (100?) number of runs.

What is so wrong with an ichor-like concept that is exchangeable for a specific item. Earn 1000 itchy-cruor per fight of one specific NM. If you fight Akvan 100 times without receiving the item you want and have 100,000 itchy-cruor, I can exchange it for the cure potency body I want.

Why is this bad?

Just let me feel like I'm making progress, that's all I want. The despair (far too strong a word, but the right sentiment) of seeing crap in your treasure chest dozens of times in a row is infuriating.