Can we end this?

[Aldwin]

To give credit where it's due, there surely are elements/aspects of this game that excel over XI and attract many of us, such as graphics and more importantly the casual play factor.

Hopefully this isn't too offtopic, but I wanted to add to this not all of us (myself at least) aren't too excited with the casual play factor. At least as far as easy, short or small group oriented play.

Some of my best memories of xi were overcoming hard missions or bosses that took us many tries, deaths, days farming items or gil to buy gear, only to fail over and over again (early cop? lol) until we beat it. While hard content may sound bland to some, the feeling of accomplishment was all the more for having to have worked harder for it. After they nerfed the cop missions, I don't think it was quite as interesting personally.

I hope they add some rather difficult content to xiv.

[Gennosuke]

Some of my best memories of xi were overcoming hard missions or bosses that took us many tries, deaths, days farming items or gil to buy gear, only to fail over and over again (early cop? lol) until we beat it. While hard content may sound bland to some, the feeling of accomplishment was all the more for having to have worked harder for it. After they nerfed the cop missions, I don't think it was quite as interesting personally.

I hope they add some rather difficult content to xiv.

I agree with you that challenge is what makes a game fun and certainly what made XI fun too, as with the examples you mentioned. Casual doesn't necessarily have to conflict with a challenge focused and party oriented game for that matter although unfortunately it does in the current state the game is in (and i blame that on the flawed Armoury system). I believe that SE was aiming for a balance with this game and i like to believe they can still do it.
As for challenging content, i would think they will bring it on sooner or later, personally i would prefer job/subjob system to kick in, i think that would solve alot of the issues we have and would set a limitation and a standard level where content can be equally challenging for all and SE wouldn't have to worry so much about discrepancies or balance between casuals and non casuals.

Otherwise, I think the moment they seriously address the Armoury system to cater for all sorts of players, then, again, we can hopefully have harmony where everyone can be challenged in the game at equal levels.
Having said that though, they do have plans of implementing some limitations on Armoury system in the future and i think that will be a step forward in the direction you suggested.

[Serio]

Hopefully this isn't too offtopic, but I wanted to add to this not all of us (myself at least) aren't too excited with the casual play factor. At least as far as easy, short or small group oriented play.

Some of my best memories of xi were overcoming hard missions or bosses that took us many tries, deaths, days farming items or gil to buy gear, only to fail over and over again (early cop? lol) until we beat it. While hard content may sound bland to some, the feeling of accomplishment was all the more for having to have worked harder for it. After they nerfed the cop missions, I don't think it was quite as interesting personally.

I hope they add some rather difficult content to xiv.

The hardcore stuff is coming, just gotta be patient. I'm sure it takes them a lot longer to create/revamp hardcore stuffs than it did for the small raids that we have now. You gotta remember that FFXI was mostly hardcore content, and that casual content wasn't even added until like a couple years ago.