What do you think SE had in mind when designing Free Companies?
I believe they had a grand vision of free companies, they were to be your raiding buddies. Mentors to teach new players how to play classes, provide crafting and repair services to one another. Be it a cook to make the raiding food, to a gatherer to handle all the ingredients. A hierarchy of support and leadership to help players make their way in the game. Instead they are glorified social link shells, or small groups of static parties for specific endgame content with some minor buffs. They resemble nothing like the grand companies they emulate, and it's kind of sad. It is no wonder people are upset about housing costs, if they had a large FC and managed resources etc then the costs wouldn't seem so high.
If they would implement FC content that required cooperation, resource management and the need for more players they just might live up to grand companies. I've played other games that give guild/faction specific content, typicayl in regards to a base of operations. You needed to collect resources to expand, you had daily quests only for members. Even grand battles that revolved around your base and members, those things are lacking here. Even something as simple as a weekly event where you have to defend your land would move it in the right direction.