Should have made FFXI-2 instead of this game IMO

[BedroomRockstar01]

Quest driven leveling is such a bad idea IMO.

As opposed to mindlessly grinding mobs? Well, I guess that's one opinion.

I'm enjoying gathering (which levels much quicker then job leveling)

You're doing it wrong then (not that gathering takes that long either).

Also, if you considered leveling alts a viable option in FFXI, then you must have not played pre-CoP. That was the last time I was there, and you were lucky to have 1-2 jobs at 75, let alone an entire alt character, although I understand that they basically nuked that system of leveling and made it a joke at some point. There are things I loved about XI that I'd like to see come back, but not any of the things you're suggesting. So what's my point? Take the game for what it is, and judge it on that alone. If it's not for you, then it's not for you. Comparing a 1 month old game to a 10 year old game is unrealistic to begin with.