(Disclaimer: This is not a rant. The guys on the digest videos genuinely seem like nice ppl. I am by no means angry, flaming, or upset with anyone. Just disappointed, that is all)
As a BST returning since 2015, I hear ya.
I feel like FFXI is in maintenance mode. However, if you are a paid to play service, and are taking customer's money on a monthly basis, there is no maintenance mode. Maintenance mode is for F2P games, that are simply alive for the smaller community who wants to play the game.
Coming back, it does not seem that things have improved, but pretty much stayed the same.... a little worst for certain jobs I hear. Granted, I just came back a week or so ago, and is mostly a career BST who played MNK and Ninja (But I have yet to jump back into those jobs)
Since coming back, I have been complaining about BST Ad Nauseam. When I checked wiki with excitement to see BST's new toys. BST jug cycle of Rabbits, Sheep, Fly, Mandy, Ant, and Flytrap was still a thing.......
Our best pet is Falcorr (Fantod > Heel > Back-heel or a Lucky Triple Attack), but he is capped at 114 me think? Or why a mnk jug has store tp.....? Are Scorpions and Wivre jugs hard to code into the game? Oh, they are already in the game....
KI is a great ability pending which species within the ecosystem you are fighting. Replacing Beast Affinity with in increase to KI damage would have been better imo. Say a Boost to 30% damage, defense, and intimidation when it is active with full merits.
As I mentioned, I was a Ninja main as-well. I was also one of the few people whom utilized throwing and Sange (Notably in Abyssea). During that time, they would release something like a Rare non-stackable shuriken with all throwing stats on it.... As someone who used throwing, I was like "Whaaaaa....?"
Shurikens were also hard to get, like rare drops off a BCNM or something. I get ppl used it for +enmity, but still....
Some things like that also make me feel if they are out of touch, and no thought goes into certain jobs. I get not many ppl can relate to the ninja stuff. However, I was one of the ppl whom would jump through their job hoops and make stuff work, only to be reminded it is more of a joke, and not much thought went into it....