It's appalling to see how many complaints there are flying around since the 1.18 update....which was hours ago.

This is what we call balancing, people. Welcome to challenge. Because that's what FFXI was all about, and they aren't about to make FFXIV something easy either.

Yes, you work a little harder, but the rewards and the feeling of accomplishment are multiplied in proportion to that work. What has held true for every Final Fantasy game in existence? Parties. Jobs. Classes. You name it, that ultimately all compliment one another. Don't expect to come into this game and be able to do everything solo because you were babied through pre 1.18.

Or perhaps a lot of complainers doesn't understand simply because they are branching off from WoW to play this?

First day of 1.18, give it a chance.