Quote Originally Posted by Duuude007 View Post
I am quite confident that "ALL" is largely inaccurate.

Yes, jobs are found in Ishgard.
Yes, main scenario is found in ishgard.

Is the Au Ra race locked behind Ishgard?
Is Coerthas western Highlands locked behind Ishgard?
Is Dravania locked behind Ishgard?
Are FC/personal airships locked behind Ishgard?
Is The Sea of Clouds locked behind Ishgard?
Is The Churning Mists locked behind Ishgard?
Is Alexander locked behind Ishgard?

Just because the majority of they have shared with us is presently perceived as "gated" is a far cry from presuming that everything is.
While it is true that it may be jumping to conclusions to assume that all of these are gated as well, it continues to sidestep the major issue here: Enticing new players to purchase the expansion.

Tell a new player, considering buying Final Fantasy XIV for the first time, that with this new expansion, they'll be able to visit Coerthas Western Highlands!!! They will say, "What the hell is a Coerthas?" and put it back on the shelf. If you're LUCKY, they MAY buy the base game, but if they do it has nothing to do with the expansion. The expansion has completely failed to sell itself, and has contributed nothing toward selling the base set. That is not good business.

Of the things you mentioned, Au Ra is the only attractor that might appeal to fresh newbie. They won't be interested in the new zones - of COURSE there will be new zones. It's an expansion! A newbie with a history of playing Final Fantasy games might also be intrigued by the mention of Airships and Alexander, but even that is starting to shrink the net SE should be trying to cast to reel in new players.

An MMO player is primarily interested in questions like, "Who can I be?" and "What can I do?". "Where can I go?" is much lower on the list. What we've seen of the expansion so far has been marketed EXCLUSIVELY to current FFXIV players, and that makes me worry a great deal.