From what I understand, most of the differences in FFXIV are attempts to combat RMT. They were apparently the bane of FFXI, or maybe Tanaka just had an unhealthy obsession with them. People had bots that could fish, bots that could farm, bots that could craft, bots that could camp NMs, bots that could kill mobs, bots that could search the Auction House and immediately buy and sell goods that manipulated the market, etc.
Here's a really good post by Hotohori on some of FFXI's problems with RMT, and how many of FFXIV's idiosyncrasies seem to be attempts to combat RMT. (Link in text)
If you're saying FFXIV has gone overboard, since the attempts to combat RMT often make the game less user-friendly for players, then I would probably agree with you.