Is most of FFXIV's failings due to their choice of engine?

[Nuru]

You mean like with every engine out there?

Wait what? >_>

Clearly im not all too knowledgeable about game engines, but what i meant to ask was if they could just remodel the engine just a bit, to serve a better role for an MMO instead of a single player game. Or would this have such a huge impact on the PS3 port that they wont even bother changing it?

No. It means that the PS3 version wil run on lower resolution (720p), with a lower polycount and capped at 30 fps. As we already know.
Considering the fact that overally the graphics of this game are better than any other MMO on the market or that will hit in the foreseeable future, there's no indication than the PS3 is limiting the PC version.
That's why the PS3 version has been delayed to begin with, to solve the hardware issues it had *without* limiting the PC version.

Wow, well this sucks for my friend, because I'm playing the game on a HD 6850 and Athlon II X2 3.0ghz and he believes the PS3 would be able to play the game better, since it will be optimized specifically for the PS3 components.

I'm not sure what to expect but 30 FPS is just horrible for a PS3. =/