Gaming is definitely defined by the perspective of the player. Caketime seemed to see my perspective. its no so much that I'm not wishing for old days but my point was leveling sooo fast just to say "Ha, I made it there first!" and not having actual learned the job is beyond ridiculous to me. It was the same back then- but you actually had to work for it. These days its like so what you are a level 99 in 3 days... You just stood in a party watching the scenery. Do you even know what to do? Oh, I forgot, that is what FFXI Wiki is for...

I think in order to fully enjoy (anything) in life, you have to experience multiple emotions- joy, sadness, anger, fear... Where is the sense of accomplishment if you didn't have to work for it? I can't say that I loved "old school" leveling- it definitely sucked. But this new way is pointless. Why not just have SE make everyone level 99 immediately and sell the best gear from an NPC for cheap? Seems like that's what some people would like. But once you are 99 with the best gear, what is there to do? Then go admire the beautiful atmospheres of the areas you skipped over or have never even been to? I know every inch and centimeter of all zones just before the last two expansions because I ran them, I leveled there, I died there, I did quest/missions there, I had fun there. Oh well.. Like Alhanelem says- get over it or enjoy it

*Liked* all your replies, thanks for your kind and respectful answers