What.

I played FFXI for four and a half years. The battles did not require that you be smart. They required that you be geared and have friends. FFXI enemies were virtually mechanic-less until you got up to the stronger NMs at the level cap. By that virtue, even the weakest bosses in FFXIV are more challenging than FFXI enemies, which are not difficult to defeat if you meet the conditions for defeating them.

Additionally, about the gear thing--try adding tough endgame content that doesn't actually reward players with anything. Watch how fast this forum goes nuclear.