If being gimp isn't a concern, then why play?
I have not played very much in the past 2-3 years, very small spurts of playtime.

Simply put, these two statements are in conflict as would they be in any game with character development, not just MMOs, but especially them.

You enjoyed the Vana'diel of yesteryear perhaps because you had more time to devote to it, it's never been easier to obtain "endgame usable" equipment and keep current with equipment than it currently is. The systems involved can be weirdly obtuse and convoluted, but they are certainly lesso than most previous ones in XI's storied past.

Last night a friend of mine told me they just completed a "5-hour-raid" in WoW, and I kinda grinned sadly, though I like the new direction XI has taken, more often than not, I do sometimes miss being able to say "My game is much more hardcore than yours." lol.

When we've no longer got WoW beat in terms of dedication needed to be successful you know there have been big changes in XI. This is not a complaint mind you, I'm pretty happy with the direction of XI, even if I'm annoyed at some systems (Skirmish Augments -.-) just saying, you seem to be the only one I know who seems to think the game is actually gotten more demanding in terms of time commitment or complexity, everyone else thinks the reverse.