You still wait 2-4 months for note-worthy content with FFXIV as well. Except when it finally hits, it's usually a mess in one way or another. Which I believe is what the OP is noting here.
In WoW's case, at least there has been some degree of QA in place via PTR and via feedback. But for FFXIV, there is none other than Yoshi's word.
The only time something was done based on feedback that I can recall, was when WAR was adjusted to be on par with PLD (They still aren't there, not quite, still). And that was after Yoshi had the nerve to say WAR was fine (Lol). If it hadn't been for the several dozens of threads, consisting of hundreds of responses across the NA/EU and JP forums and the flat out alienation of the class, nothing would have been done.
When the dev. team leader is that blind to such simple/basic mechanics/issues, we have a major problem.
Even if they don't, that allows the devs to monitor.
However, I recall in my vanilla WOW days, we had entire guilds dedicated to testing on the PTR.
