What's your MMO history?

[Gormogon]

I really enjoyed FFXIV 1.0 despite its issues. But the (WoW inspired) 'MMO-as-themepark' model that ARR has prompted me to quit.

Like a real themepark, the entire experience gets old and tiring really fast. Every path is paved and girded by safety rails, the 'fun' is mass produced, pre-packaged and shoved in your face, the souvenirs and trinkets are junk that is quickly discarded or forgotten, and finally, the whole place is largely populated with gluttonous, entitled, and generally whiny children.

I wanted to explore the world of Eorzea, discover it's mysteries, conquer it's foes, reap its rewards and generally enjoy an escapist (final) fantasy life.

Because ARR provides none of what I hoped for, I'm out. The bus-loads of slobbering kids can have the place -- it was built for them, after all.

The way I see it is that the biggest offender in FFXIV ARR is Square-Enix's own restrictiveness. Everything they create they seem to approach it from a "restrictive" angle for the sake of being restrictive.

CSS = Limited
Summoner's egi = because "figment of the primal".
Limit Break = because roles.
Coil = Difficulty and lockouts because they don't want to see to many people with it.
Relic weapon = long grinds because too many people with Zenith
Story related collaborations = "it has to make sense".

And the list goes on and on and it's really sad because removing that restrictive barrier would really allow Square-Enix's creativity to shine instead of being such a doom and gloom experience.

I don't see any effort of, "Even though we want this content to have longevity we'll at least make it an enjoyable long term experience by..."

That is what truly disappoints me.

Since content that doesn't take that restrictive approach is really enjoyable. Such as Hildebrand and Main Scenario quest lines.