Retainers, confirmed, you have to pay for them.

[Xairos]

I dunno, when anyone tries the "slippery slope" retort in debates usually it's shot right down a weak foundation. Dont see why that wouldnt apply here.

[Rose-Wild]

Retainers with a monthly fee? I haven't even seen something that greedy in a f2p game. Horrible and scary news imo.

[IzumiRaito]

1- I hate this very much. Espiecially when a f2p game like path of exile has only stash tabs as worst available purchase.

2- If we dont boycott the paid retainers, the hell will increase.

3- It does affect the gameplay. If f2p game can survive without selling anything more game-affecting than stash tabs, then subscription game is forbidden to do so.

4- Voice not, but wallet yes. I suggest everyne that doesnt agree with paid retainers postpone renewing their sub for as long as they can.

5- Purchasing them with gil should be the right way.

6- See point 2. It has potential to become worse than f2p games if we dont do anything.

[Felis]

So, not sure how the venture currency will work and whether we can send them all at the same time on ventures but, yeah..... it will possibly give a small advantage to people who can, or wish to pay for whatever the max number for retainers is.

You earn venture currency through daylies, GC and other contents.
While your retainer is on tour you can still call him back with the retainer bell. But then you need to spend a venture coin again to send him on tour again.

Initially, in 1.0 they were planned to be available for $$$ as an option to have more storage space. Not giving other advantages to players other than allowing them to hoard stuff and go OCD with collecting every pebble they picked up on their adventures

Are you sure? They had already during 1.0 levels after all. That seem to me that it was already since 1.0 planned that they can do more than be storage npc and sellers.

[Shirai]

Ahhh.... damnit... looks like retainers can now collect Lalafell souls, Miqo'te pelts and other blackmarket stuff...

I really out of business for real now.

Oi! Leave our pelts alone!

That said, to answer some questions from the OP:

1- What's your opinion about this? (Summarize)

I'm not too bothered with it, they announced it well ahead and the prices aren't too high for something that is completely optional.

2- Do you think we will have more things like this in the future totally changing our idea of FFXIV:ARR?

Will they have more things like this? I guess they will.
Will it change my view/idea? Depends on what they're adding in the cash shop.

3- Am I just exaggerating and it's something normal or that, 'doesn't affect gameplay' even if it's confirmed that those 'ventures' will grant us items, and even if it is clear that we will need more space storage in the future?...

Those ventures themselves don't appear to be completely "free", as far as I understood from the letter you will need some kind of chip or token to make them venture out for you.
As for storage space, even as a crafter I have no lack of storage space as I only get items I need at a specific time.
Apart from that I am not really a gear/item hoarder either.

Apart from that, I rarely have more than 20 items for sale at a time so I won't need any extra retainers for that either.

4- Is our voice enough for change these things?

If we combine our voices, they will reconsider.
Most recent proof is the "Aetheryte ticket" topic.

5- Should retainers be in-game for guil or any other ways, giving the currency a little more of importance aside of housing?

As others have said, this service costs SE server space and resources, so real money.
Ingame gil will simply not compensate for that.
Aside from that, by asking real money for it they also make it something for the player to think about.
Do you really need it?

6- Taking in mind these kind of strategies, do you think eventually the game will become a Pay 2 Win, or, not radically that, but, slowly increase the amount of money we pay per month if we want to play it full advantages?

Right now I'd say, no. But I cannot predict the future.
If that happens though, I think you will get a very clear answer to question 4.

[Vydos]

Why are people so surprised about this? Yoshi-p only said that he was against a f2p model. But tons of hints were dropped that they would still sell items and other stuff in a "cash shop". As long as it's not pay to win, who cares. The cash shop for minor stuff was planned ever since 1.0. But never got the chance to see the daylight.

I for one, don't care about this. And don't mind this. I'll most likely pay for that additional retainer though. Mostly for convenience. Getting tired of clearing and managing my inventory and all my equipments. (I'm a loot goblin)

[Lord_Zlatan]

2. I think that this and Phantasia will be the only charged services (oh and a server transfer). This is perfectly normal for the history of FFOnline games. Remember muling in FFXI.
3. I have no space problems with my 2 retainers, so I dont care to get another one.

This. I had 2 mules (2 extra $$ a month) plus another character for another $ a month. The reason I don't care that they are charging for retainers is this: They have several options that allow you to keep your inventory low, that the 2 retainers they do give you for free (which have 175 slots each?) are more than enough for most players. If you absolutely need to have a 3rd or 4th retainer, then so be it.

If you can send all your retainers out on ventures, then this will be a slight issue.

[Purrfectstorm]

More retainers means being able to sell more items at a time. I foresee the markets being flooded even more than they already are. I think this is bad news for crafters/gatherers. You'll be able to sell more items but will get less for your work.

[Balfreid]

I pay for legacy subscription. So an extra 4$ is fine by me. 10$ already seemed way too low for the amount I play the game.
So I will just have to give up one Iced-Coffee a month. No big deal.

[Felis]

More retainers means being able to sell more items at a time. I foresee the markets being flooded even more than they already are. I think this is bad news for crafters/gatherers. You'll be able to sell more items but will get less for your work.

Not different than creating a second character to sell more