100% the devs intentions. FF14 isn't competing against other MMO's, it's competing against EVERY live-service game. From Genshin Impact and Zenless Zone Zero, to Monster Hunter Wilds and Helldivers II, to Apex Legends and Marvel Rivals. The way in which people game has definitely changed as well, much more flitting from one game to the next as opposed to undying, eternal devotion to a single game. There is such a thing as too much content, and I'd argue FF14 just about gets the cadence and balance right, aside from the X.1 patches.
