Originally Posted by
lackofwords
I'm having trouble understanding what you mean by "It's not that they lack originality is the point?" Do you mean "It's not that, they lack originality is the point" or "It's not that they lack originality, is the point"?
However, the post above me already mentioned, Star Wars is a telling of the Star War's "Universe". Final Fantasy series has stories of various different universes that doesn't co-exist with each other.
Thus, you have to re-brand the race/culture, just like how they are re-branding all the races from FFXI. Their only reasoning given to doing so was for ease of transition between FFXI players who have become attached to their characters. However, they had no intent to keep the races' culture from FFXI. I can't imagine them wanting to re-brand races from other FF games to incorporate into FFXIV.
Don't mistake a continuity of universes throughout FF series because of recycling iconic creatures, monsters, vehicles, and names. Such as chocobos, bombs, airships, and the name Cid. Granted these were not always in every single FF game, but more of a branding device for FF games.