Please... just drop the PS3 port debate. This was asked and answered by SE back when they announced FF14. Can't remember it exactly, but you may find it out there translated on one of the blogs at E3 or something (think it was 2009?).
Basically, the panel explained when they explored the prospect of bringing an MMO to the PS3, they wanted to make it the best they could, in comparison to the current market. Note the key point there....the best compared to everyone else at the time. This was nearly a DECADE after FFXI's development started---the genre had a LOT more expected of games now. They decided it would be best to develop a NEW GAME, with new mechanics, new features---in general, a new way of doing things to compete with what was considered the new norm in the genre.
Porting FFXI, even with a complete new graphics engine, would NOT accomplish this goal. So, they decided to make a new game for the PS3 . They have made it quite clear multiple times that they were committed to investing the resources into a NEW GAME for the PS3 console instead of trying to rehash FFXI into a v2.0 launch just for the PS3
Just think of the mess that would have created in 2010. SE announces a new FFXI that (due to hardware constraints) could ONLY be played on the PS3, PC, and XB360, and that PS2 support would completely end soon. Even if they extended PS2 support for like 1 year after FFXI v2.0 launches, you would have a crapstorm of kickback from these die-hard PS2 users because they would have to buy a new platform to play on....wait....isn't that what's going on now? Well except that they can STILL PLAY ON THE PS2 (just not SoA outside JP client)....
Seems like either way, PS2 users would eventually get kicked to the curb in some fashion, as the console ages and is eventually phased out of the market itself. At least this way, you still have the option of continuing to play the older 10 years worth of content on your beloved PS2.
Be thankful for that at least....it could be MUCH worse.