Yoshi P talks about Warriors- from Producer Letter Live @ TGS

[konflikti]

I like having a highly customizable character. I also like having a very balanced game. I also like devs that actually have time to develop new content in reasonable periods of time. You don't get to have all three of those.

Because you decided that it is not possible. Because what you decide, is indeed a fact.

There will *always* be an optimal construct; the idea that you can deviate from that may be comforting since it allows those that don't care about balance to achieve some degree of uniqueness by applying their own special brand of less-than-optimal but it doesn't change the fact that it is, honestly, an illusion of choice.

Following your train of thought, WAR as choice for tank should not even exist, because it is clearly less optimal than PLD. Merely an illusion of choice.

For certain aspects of the game, like gear, going with a single option that is well designed is better than creating a bunch of options, only one of which will actually be used by 99% of the population

Or I dunno, you could create bunch of well designed gear! Like, you could have these extremely complex things like items that provide MORE DEF for those people that like to play it safe and ones that provide MORE DMG for those who want faster clears. (Oh wait, it exists to some level already on accessories... but I think they should just lock it down, since those damn illusions man, they don't even fit)

you're just changing some number around

Numbers are everything. Literally.

If you feel like getting upset or condescending because you don't have a bazillion options, it's all on you because you're not cognizant of what actually takes place and you have this magical notion in your mind that more options equate to more *real* options. The illusion of choice exists as an illusion and, honestly, most people are recognizing this and simply don't care about preserving it.

Simple people don't care about choices.

When making ARR, the devs cut out a *lot* of the pointless crap that most other MMOs have included, largely because other MMOs had them. Because they cut out all of that crap, they got to focus on making what *does* matter actually good. They might not have done a perfect job, but they did a damned good job. If they hadn't I'd be playing a different game rather than one that I thoroughly enjoy.

They cut that out because of the time constraints you mentioned earlier and also because it was simply less work for them. Lot of that useless crap, for example housing and vanity items, that will be steadily flowing back too, because that is what the large quiet masses want. More customization, more unique snowflake.