Sarick, I do not have an issue with the idea of a name change. My issue is the way in which the suggestion is being brought up.

SE has, in the past, given items to players for "returning to FFXI." The idea is that you reward loyalty, yes, but you also want to maintain good relations with former players so as to keep them "in the pool" so to speak for future games/installments.

I'm turning into a broken record here, but I do not have an issue with the idea of a name-change option. However, I think that this should be considered without the additional intent of removing character names from other accounts, whether they are active or not. Yes, you are still paying/playing, and I'm sure you feel like you've accomplished a lot in the years you have played; I simply do not subscribe to the idea that name-changing is such a critical, over-due adjustment, that it warrants the steps being suggested.

Find a way to impliment a name-change option without affecting other accounts, and I'll gladly jump on board.