Steam & FFXIV ARR

I am going to be transitioning from PS4 to PC when Heavensward is released, bought the bundle of both games (Still waiting to figure out how to use my code, this may answer it) and now just waiting.

But I see lots of talk with FFXIV ARR with Steam, and it has me curious, since I am making the transition, does playing FFXIV: ARR on my PC require me to register it and play it through Steam? I would rather not do so due to certain limitations Steam places on people and because of personal reasons.

No you're not required to use Steam. Thankfully.