This game isn't failing because it's not Final Fantasy, it's because of the half assed and not-thoroughly-analyzed systems that have been put and continue to be put in this game.

Lowered collision with terrain? Now the game looks weird AND jump won't be implemented.
More features on MW? We're now moving further away from a window/text only display that's stable and user friendly, AND wasting time with a system 90% of customers, current and potential, dislike.
Sped up levels 1-20? Instead of making early game fun to charm new players, they're pushing everyone to mid and high levels. They will not be making low level content anymore, and levels 1-20 will remain a boring, pointless grindfest that nobody likes.
Quests with mediocre story, mediocre item rewards, and NO exp rewards? Does anyone but the most devoted fanboy even care about these?

Every step of the way, the developers have been shooting themselves in the foot with this game, Tanaka and Yoshida alike. It took 3 attempts to get a good targetting system going.

wtf man?