WoW was definitely a key taking-point for FFXIV, they've admitted it themselves.

However, if anything, Fates are a very beefy descendant of FFXI's Campaign which predate RIFT's...rifts.

It's not a wow-clone though. It's prettier, it plays a lot differently at the moment and the class system is way too basic. (WoW, RIFT, FFXI all had superior class systems. I think FFXIV's would be fine if it allowed you access to abilities from more than just two jobs. I understand, and support, why gladiators can no longer equip Fire, and THM can no longer equip say Sentinel, but I don't see anything wrong with a Monk (Monk, not pug) who wants to use abilities from other melee, or a PLD who wants to use Second Wind.

But that is off-topic.