Your idea of a challenge.

[Seriha]

I emphasize complexity over difficulty in the sense that we really shouldn't see content where only the smallest fraction of the playerbase can hope to finish. Being better geared could help finish more quickly and safely, but the moment you basically introduce the equivalent of "gear checks" that other MMOs have, you start alienating people who are either unlucky with drops or simply don't have the time to hunt them with any level of expediency. Now, this isn't to say people wearing level 1 RSE should be able to beat everything, but a little bit of common sense should go a long way.

[Leonlionheart]

I emphasize complexity over difficulty in the sense that we really shouldn't see content where only the smallest fraction of the playerbase can hope to finish. Being better geared could help finish more quickly and safely, but the moment you basically introduce the equivalent of "gear checks" that other MMOs have, you start alienating people who are either unlucky with drops or simply don't have the time to hunt them with any level of expediency. Now, this isn't to say people wearing level 1 RSE should be able to beat everything, but a little bit of common sense should go a long way.

This is pretty much what is unique about FFXI, get enough people and you can do anything.

Although in its current state where leveling up a job is made completely irrelevant by Abyssea, I think SE should put some type of "gear check" NMs since it would be the only real way to show a sort of progression.

Gear just making a fight easier makes that gear not really desirable as in comparison to gear making a fight actually beatable.

[Akujima]

but the moment you basically introduce the equivalent of "gear checks" that other MMOs have, you start alienating people who are either unlucky with drops or simply don't have the time to hunt them with any level of expediency.

An Acceptable Lv of "Gear Checks" is welcomed by the community. If this were untrue, then WoW would not have become the smashing success that it is, and it has a TON of gear checks.

Drop rate issues in FFXI are abyssmal and always have been. That's a flop on the side of the Dev's who decided to give low, low, low percentages with massive competition when the game was first designed. The fact that there are barely any instances in XI is tricky to deal with, but it can be overcome with smart and thoughtful planning.

But anyhow. Basically without a healthy "Gear Check" system in place, then your character turns into a Demigod or Superhero, which will effectively make all the content simplistic and easy.