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Yep. I also idly wonder why it was even released without directX 11 at launch tbph.
Because it's been in the news that when Microsoft ends XP support, a large number of people in Japan will be affected. Yes, the Japanese are STILL using XP even today. DirectX 11 isn't supported on XP so it only makes sense that Square wouldn't develop for it.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/01/19/national/windows-xp-phaseout-to-put-13-million-pcs-at-risk-in-japan-experts/
What if it looked like this, though?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5aZJBLAu1E
It's a fairly large change to 3d layer. You're just trivializing the amount of work like it's easy. As you said though the ps4 is essentially DirectX 11. Although it likely sports both 9 and 11 since the pc version of the hardware did.