@Peepiopi: I know of casual players who play regularly for about 3 hours a day. They are as casual as your average Joe and Jane. They worked hard for their relic weapon. I have seen a guy who logged on for a couple hours a day and shout for Assault/Salvage so he can get his mythic weapon. Are these the 'die hard'? Or are they just diligence people who just want to accomplish something with the small amount of time they have to play?

There are lots of reasons why these people aren't playing like you or probably a fair number of other 'hardcore' players. Time constraints or just no longer like the groupie groupie large LS events. I admit using REM for a skillcheck is insanely inaccurate but let me ask you this: do you have a better idea for checking a player? Or are you just ranting about how bad it is. How do you know how 'skillful' a person is when you 1st meet them? I can tell you this, people use the 1st page of a resume as a 'skill check' but both you and I know that piece of paper is not the representation of the whole person. It's still being used anyways. Right now, it's the same: Delve weapon or you're not getting invited as a DD. Tell me how's that different than REM other than the fact that Delve weapon can be obtained must quicker?

Smart business carters to every single one of their customers. From diehard fans, hardcore triple-boxers to regular guy who plays everyday. Even that guy who doesn't talk to anyone and only solo. Even the guy who does nothing but craft all day long. You cut a piece of your customer base away, you will lose that piece. Your customer base will shrink. Also, FFXI is shrinking. It can not afford to continue cutting away its own customers.

Of course, you are always facing lack of resources to keep everyone happy. You can do a bit of everything or focus on one thing. However, what you don't want to do is alienate your customers. You don't want to have people climb up a ladder and kick it.