Physical Copy FFXIV Online + Digital SB = Still Need Physical Disk?

I had purchased Stormblood via the PS Store on the PS4 digitally in hopes that I wouldn't have to utilize a disk to play the game.
I had originally purchased FFXIV Online physical copy when HW came out (the ARR + HW combo disk with Ishgard on the cover).

However, it seems SB downloaded to my HDD as an add-on to the physical disk version of the game I already have, kind of like DLC, instead of being a standalone application that I can run. Hence, I must continue to insert the disk in order to play FFXIV (despite the digital SB copy).

Why is this? Is there a way to not have to continue inserting the disk to play?

Sadly, the main FFXIV "client" is what matters for whether you can play digitally or physically, because yeah, the expansion packs just count as add-ons of sorts; they're actually attached to your SE account, even, not your game.

AFAIK, the only way to fix this is buying a digital copy of the (base) game, as much as that sucks. x_x

This is a very backward and odd thing.

On the PC version you can buy a physical copy of the game but literally all that DVD serves is to stop you having to download a portion of the game, as the rest is given in patches, everyone just wants the code inside.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Saralene

AFAIK, the only way to fix this is buying a digital copy of the (base) game, as much as that sucks. x_x

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Or download the free client that is in the PSN for trial play, which is much cheaper.