Quote Originally Posted by Alhanelem View Post
Because it's about specialization *within each job* not your character as a whole.
Yes, I feel quite special when I can't max out that new job I fell in love without nerfing that other one I also love. When I can't bring something to the table I get nothing but praise and appreciation from those around me. It's like that time before I had all my BLM spells, and everyone was just so impressed that I was lacking spells that other BLMs had.

Also, the merit WS are hardly all absolute requirements.
You could say that about everything really, but many of those other things have no limits. So why is it a good thing here but not everywhere? Why am I allowed to obtain and upgrade all the JSE sets for example? Why, if I had the resources, am I allowed to make all the RMEs? Why am I allowed to learn all the spells on my BLM? Why can a BST call any jug pet? Why can your PUP call all the automatons? Wouldn't you rather have specialization and only be able to call one or two auto types? That way yours and someone else's are potentially different.

It's about making your character different from others in small ways, and frankly I think it's even more important consider how easy it is now to get every job maxed. Why does standing out on your favorite job seem like such a terrible thing to you? It doesn't render your other jobs unplayable, especially under the ilvl system where gear > everything else.
First of all my character stands out from others quite a bit because I have no interest in leveling or gearing every job, and my choices are rather eclectic. I'm also an Elvaan female and the only one who runs with my groups these days. Most of all, my play style and personality set me apart from others, for better or worse. I don't need an arbitrary limit to make me unique. I don't feel diminished when other people have the same stuff as me or can do the same things. Conversely I don't feel good when I can't do something they can.

It's really not. Everyone who makes this argument acts as if the system prevents you from playing XYZ jobs when it doesn't at all.
Don't tell me that. Tell the exclusionary party leaders who demand perfection and completeness even where it isn't required.

But like I said, I know my view is unpopular, because the general thinking of everyone is "why have less when you can have more? Give us everything, there's no reason for us to not have everything!" rather than "I want to focus on being the best summoner and blue mage I can be, so I'm going to spec my merits for those jobs. I've got a geared pld too, so I can use that if necessary, but I'd perfer to play my favored jobs."
You act as though one can't be the best at their preferred jobs while also having all WS options available for others.

I've only bothered to cap 6 jobs. My merits are entirely focused on 2 of them. However, I'm completely still able to use the other 4 jobs in content. So, personally, I don't see the problem. You don't need the club or staff ws to play the jobs that use those weapons, you don't need all your merits in HP to be able to play a tank, you don't need all your attributes in INT to play your BLM.

The whole premise of the merit system was to give your favorite jobs a boost, not to lock you out of playing other jobs (and it doesn't).
But it does! Just because it works for you doesn't mean others aren't suffering ill effects from the limitations. If you don't have all your ducks in a row on a job but 3 other people do then who's going to get chosen? It won't be you unless you have an in with the group leader. The "system" may not limit you, but perception is reality and the prevailing perception is that if you don't have it you are weak compared to someone who does. And that job you decided to focus all your merits in at the expense of all others because you love it so much? Chances are high that it's a job that's considered useless compared to the 5 or 6 that are favored.