It's unlikely it will remain free to play.
one thing to take into consideration is...since the game is free atm. ppl are making more characters JUST to put more retainers in the wards. i bet the wards are going to get REAL empty once they start charging as people delete mules, or remove retainers...etc.
I'm still gonna be stubborn as to whether I'm ever gonna pay monthly for the game, but if I did...and perhaps the overload of retainers calms down(with people quitting or at least killing off some of their extra characters/retainers)...then maybe. But I'd like to hear about player/linkshell housing & storage options for those first.
lol. <3
Here's the comic I snipped it from, it's a little mini side comic from the guy who does VGcats. :P
http://www.vgcats.com/ffxi/images/070721.jpg
well by the payment that had been announced at 3$ for extra char's and 1$ per mule i already have my funds allotted for me to keep my extra char and getting 3-4 extra retainers for my main. by the time the game starts charging i will have most, if not all, classes to cap so i will be mostly concentrating on the markets.