FFXI is super easy mode now. You can get to max level from level 1 in a matter of day, 8 days max if you're lazy about it. Skillin up is still a bitch, so they added a page thingy or w/e to certain zones to get increased rate of skill ups, super easy mode compared to what it was.
/agreed with the "if you wanna solo in an mmo, you should really just stick to single player games" that soloing in an mmo came out of WoW and F2p clone models. I don't think the ride to max level should be spent solo and then you learn to party with people for endgame, you should be learning how to party with people while learning to play your class in a party environment before getting to endgame or max rank.
