What other MMO has done this, and why does SE think it's a good idea?

[Meya]

Elmeron, it's a Final fantasy game, this is story focused all the way and feels like the old Final fantasy titles. Doing a mini story to get something is totally acceptable with final fantasy games. Should have expected it. I can't imagine how you didn't finish the story missions, they were very easy to complete.

[Belhi]

I see the Mount thing come up a fair bit. To be fair the quests connected to joining a Grand Company spell out exactly what you need to do to get the mount. I know this cause I did it only a couple of months ago and needed no directing. I just read the quest and help text.

This game has a lot of help and breadcrumbs to show people where to find things. With a few exceptions, usually the reason people usually miss some feature or unlock is they simply skip over the explanation.

[Elmeron]

Elmeron, it's a Final fantasy game, this is story focused all the way and feels like the old Final fantasy titles. Doing a mini story to get something is totally acceptable with final fantasy games. Should have expected it. I can't imagine how you didn't finish the story missions, they were very easy to complete.

Did you not read? I did complete most of it. I wouldn't be i80 if I hadn't. You do realize that there is a ton of main quests still left after the base game and credits are finished rolling, right? At the same time I have dungeons to do, and I also just got done leveling THM to 26 so I could have swiftcast for my SCH, and next I have to level CONJ to 36 to get stoneskin (at least I already leveled CONJ to 15 because I needed protect), not to mention trying to earn enough gil for a house before the expansion, since I worry that prices will skyrocket once the expansion goes live.

[Zenaku]

Only one reason FFXIV focus a lot of storyline while other games while have storyline. Does not focus enough on storyline.

[Set-Abominae]

Why wouldn't the new content be locked behind the main scenario? They aren't making you clear t13 to go to Ishgard so stop crying. If you cant be bothered to play the game and feel everything should be handed to you as soon as you register then we don't need you here

[Sapphic]

I have to level CONJ to 36 to get stoneskin (at least I already leveled CONJ to 15 because I needed protect), not to mention trying to earn enough gil for a house before the expansion, since I worry that prices will skyrocket once the expansion goes live.

Don't worry too much about stoneskin on SCH, in 4 peeps, not needed at all, Adlo is more effective and more mana efficient. SCH stoneskin is the same sterngth as PLD one, 10%, In 8 person content, The WHM will be covering Stoneskin at the start, as theirs is 18%.

I pretty much never use stoneskin on SCH, even in Final coil.

[kyuven]

Did you not read? I did complete most of it. I wouldn't be i80 if I hadn't. You do realize that there is a ton of main quests still left after the base game and credits are finished rolling, right? At the same time I have dungeons to do, and I also just got done leveling THM to 26 so I could have swiftcast for my SCH, and next I have to level CONJ to 36 to get stoneskin (at least I already leveled CONJ to 15 because I needed protect), not to mention trying to earn enough gil for a house before the expansion, since I worry that prices will skyrocket once the expansion goes live.

Welcome to being in an MMO. Grinds are normal. You have many, many more to come.

i don't understand why people are surprised by this. The game's lore specifically says Ishgard is and has been closed off to outsiders for quite a while. The story explains why we're able to go there.

[ViiLavender]

I would say it's pretty normal for an MMO to lock the expansion content off, otherwise you would have no idea (lore-wise) why you're going to the areas in the first place.

Also take into account what FFXIV bars behind the story already, such as not being able to get your Chocobo mount up until you choose your company.

[Elmeron]

Welcome to being in an MMO. Grinds are normal. You have many, many more to come.

i don't understand why people are surprised by this. The game's lore specifically says Ishgard is and has been closed off to outsiders for quite a while. The story explains why we're able to go there.

I didn't even comment on Ishgard, and I get that grind is normal in an MMO. What isn't normal is the weird forcing of people to level classes outside of the one that they chose to roll as their main. No other MMO does that. It's not really a huge deal or anything, just a bit annoying, since I had zero plans to ever even bother with THM prior to being told I had to level it to get a skill that is basically required for endgame content.

[kyuven]

I didn't even comment on Ishgard, and I get that grind is normal in an MMO. What isn't normal is the weird forcing of people to level classes outside of the one that they chose to role as their main. No other MMO does that. It's not really a huge deal or anything, just a bit annoying, since I had zero plans to ever even bother with THM prior to being told I had to level it to get a skill that is basically required for endgame content.

You're in no way forced to do this. Everything is tested to be possible without all of the crossclass abilities. It's only the player insistence upon it that makes it "necessary"
For example, you CAN do coil without swiftcast...but it's a lot harder (though for t10 it's probably better that way...)
Also ishgard is where the expansion takes place. That is why the new expansion content is (literally in this case) gated.