Hmm.. Well, you're right. It's not XI.

So..

Why then do we have the same character models as we did in XI?
Why then do we have some of the same items/reagents as we did in XI?
Why are alot of the spell names and effects identical to what they were in XI?
Why is the general art style the same as it was in XI?
How come I always see chocobos?
Why does running around outside Gridania feel oddly like Yuhtunga/Yhoator minus the tonberrys?

I can answer all six... It's Final Fantasy, that's why.

There are things that just worked in XI. Why recreate them or remove them from the game completely?

Bringing something like skill chains and magic bursts into XIV doesn't make it any more XI than having a chocobo does. It may however make it more Final Fantasy than it currently is.

They need to put things into this game, period. I can't think of anybody that doesn't agree with that statement. Now what things those should be, well, that's different. I'd rather they start from the pool of things in XI than other games as far as content. I'd like them to look at games other than XI for things like interface.

This game is an expansions worth of content shy of having the content most games have upon release.