Life in the game and Epic Stories

I like many parts of Final Fantasy XIV and do have hope it will really build into something good and memorable.
For now though it has a few key areas that really lack.
1. Animation: While the animation is nice, there is no flash or dazzle. Heck even Raise is so undazzeling you have to look in the log to know a raise occured.
This video is a great example of what made XI memorable, and epic.
http://youtu.be/ov3-K2aRwQY this one shows a lot of the animation and the memory building.
http://youtu.be/iesY1XssACM This is the scenery example. It is alive there is something you can just sit and watch (plants that move, little animals, etc) it adds a lot. The current land scape even in the well wooded area near Gridania is stale, and dead in appearance.

Sense of accomplishment, Other than Crafting (although it may be too grindy) there is not really a sense of accomplishment, even with the new battles. They are just there not really epic feeling, although that is a step in the right direction. I will admit when the mobs had an AI and reacted to your presence that really added a lot to the game and should not have been removed.

Epic Story. The story is kind of well not there (even the main one). You run around read a little text and that is it. It is bland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVYhcXmXSB0
Something with a stong build (Chains of Promethia, heck even Aht Uhrgan missions) there seemed to be something to them, and they have epic parts and action. Death, sadness, happyness, accomplishement, wow factor, etc.

Just some thoughts to consider as you work towards 2.0. Not looking for and FFXI clone but just sharing why FFXI was so memorable.

I do enjoy the game in its current state just would like to add more to make it memorable.

Thanks for coming and working to make this game better, look forward to creating memories in this new world . . . . Eorzea
May it one day live up to the standard set by FFXI.