What went wrong? Is it the game or the grenre?

[Meshico]

pair of strider boots.
Eurytos' Bow.
Kirin's Osode.
Leaping Boots.
Emperor's Hairpin.

Not a single time in ARR have I had a feeling I could relate as strongly as to those achievements listed above.

I get a huge sense of accomplishment when I got my full Acolyte, Mages Gear it was amazing, and then i got my Cavalry Set which was super awesome and now i'm working on my infantry set!

Those are good...and about the closest thing to NM's out there...the only difference is you'll get one of these items almost guaranteed every run, granted it might be the same item, but then again it might not.

And Emperor's Hairpin was useful for so many level's...and those level's took soooooooo much more time.

But I don't mind my gear is only useful for like 5 level's...I will wait for the silly Vanity system and use it then I enjoy the endless grind for this gear so much more ( more like the reward than the grind )

[Nadrojj]

I get a huge sense of accomplishment when I got my full Acolyte, Mages Gear it was amazing, and then i got my Cavalry Set which was super awesome and now i'm working on my infantry set!

Those are good...and about the closest thing to NM's out there...the only difference is you'll get one of these items almost guaranteed every run, granted it might be the same item, but then again it might not.

And Emperor's Hairpin was useful for so many level's...and those level's took soooooooo much more time.

But I don't mind my gear is only useful for like 5 level's...I will wait for the silly Vanity system and use it then I enjoy the endless grind for this gear so much more ( more like the reward than the grind )

No piece of gear that I've obtained in this game has given me the man that was worth all the hard work I put in for it. Your full sets of gear prob took an hour or two of running the same instance, then worn for three or four levels then replaced. There is no longevity to the items you listed. Emperor's Hairpin for example, I got the drop on my theif, kept it and wore it on my ninja and ranger. A piece I'd never sell, was proud to wear and could be worn by pretty much all of my jobs. This game lacks rare items, and that's a shame.