Nostalgia

[Hyrist]

Perhaps in that person's opinion they weren't flawed or bad? Or perhaps they have taken the flaws into account and still reached the conclusion that it was great. Just because you don't agree with it, or the community in general doesn't agree with it doesn't make that person's opinion any less reliable. Also, you seem to be attributing those who have fond memories of something as being absolutists that may not be deserved. Saying "The community in XI was the best I ever experienced" does not mean that person believes each and every member of that community was great and there were no idiots.

Never said that, but I did say they need to take the time to view their options objectively and realize if and when they are in the minority. Defiantly declaring your opinion in a manner of which that lists it as sacrosanct, then hiding behind the all impenetrable veil of 'it's my opinion!' does not prevent it from being inherently rude, or unpopular to the silent majority.

Recognizing that position from the onset opens the door to discussion as to the inspiration and the ideas being malleable into a context that can be beneficiary for as many as possible. Instead of saying "Stop hating what I like!" or "Stop liking what I don't!"

The conversation should not go "This needs more FFXI! Less WoWZ!" The conversation should go "Hey, I like this mechanic, but I remember a lot of people not liking how it was implemented or what happened to it, how do we make it fit in FFXIV and how do we make it fun for more people?"

Kazamoto above makes a good example of what he liked and would like to see adapted. The conversation could go on from there.

Also...

Blue mage (x8)
...and Beastmaster.

I love Blue Mage, but how would we make that job work within the context of our current battle system?