Regarding gear system (PLEASE we need this SQE)

Regarding the equipment system, I don't think the problem is the Tomestone limit or anything like that. I think the fundamental issue is that items from previous expansions are useless, and even dungeons one level lower drop terrible gear compared to the next level. I don't know if you're familiar with the Final Fantasy XI MMO, but the drop system there is fantastic. Every monster drops, or has a chance to drop, a chest with gear, consumables, or equipment. Some notorious monsters that appear under certain conditions even drop equipment that can be useful in high-level areas because it doesn't just depend on stats. The equipment itself has skills like Auto-Resurrection, which automatically revives you if you die, or things like increased luck in the chance of obtaining rare items or an EXP boost. This isn't endgame; it's in the open world, and you can start farming these lower-level monsters at level 3 or 4 and sell the equipment for a lot of money. Initially, this is incredible for new or veteran players, and in the endgame... Fantasy 14 doesn't have that; the dungeon gear in chests is garbage, either synthesized or used to exchange for seals, which is useless in your adventure. I think they should take the path of FF11, at least in this drop system. In FF14, there's no incentive to explore the world other than doing trains or completing the 60 Fates per zone. The monsters in low-level areas drop junk, not chests, and the A, B, and S ranks are nothing particularly rare, making exploration worthwhile or fun, even alone or with friends.