New Jobs Gated Behind Completion of 2.0 Story?

[Duuude007]

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.

I would be careful with the use of "all" and "exclusive, simply because players can still technically access said content quickly if they burn past content via veteran friends or merccing. But the consequences of this can be steep as well, prioritizing access while sacrificing personal progression and story... To each his own I guess. Seems like a trashing of content, imho, however.

There is no basic content a player cannot get past without being carried... Step 1: Grid to 50 on one class. Step 2: Equip a set with i90 gear average (can be crafted), and with this, any player could be corpse carried through all the content including Steps of Faith... If that is what they wish.

Think of Ishgard as a massive, massive dungeon with the same gear requirements as "Keeper of the Lake". Clear it, and you get access to new features, just like KotL, except much, much larger volume.

As for your other argument, what besides jobs is on your list, as a hypothetical new player, as major selling points, in the average mmo expansion? That couldn't possibly be all for which you buy an expansion.