gear swapping makes it more strategic. and not everyone swaps the same gear and such so it is different from everyone. that is what i like about it. gear swapping on certain spells and weapon skill is about the only thing left in ffxi that has to do with strategy. they have taken everything else out. if gear swapping gets taken away, ffxi wont even count as a role playing game anymore. it would be an mmoaa. for those that dont understand, aa=action adventure.