Item Levels

[Sekhmet]

However, in order for FFXI to continue to operate, I feel that in addition to growth via items, a new growth system is necessary.

I like the mention of a growth system besides the growth by equipment idea. Now I'm no developer, but would you consider a growth-tree like addition to merits? or a completely new system outside of merits. Something along the lines of spending growth points to climb along a growth tree, taking branches to get new traits or abilities, but make each tree job-specific, and make only one path available to be taken at each branch. That way you could have 2 drks, for example, but each would be unique based on the choices they made. Again, I'm no developer, and I'm sure there are holes in what I said, but it could be an interesting path to look into ^^