Uh, huh. And let me guess, you, like all of the other so-called 'bleeding hearts' in these topics, probably already are guaranteed access to Ishgard on day one.
Rather than people trying to speak for new players, it would be refreshing to see new players beginning in late July make up their own minds about what they care about in Heavensward's gating system.
After all, your progression experience, while likely similar to mine, is also likely to be vastly dissimilar to the progression of an incoming new player. It would be disingenuous to suggest that we know what concerns them before it even happens.
I would applaud your explaining-away this gating as some sort of weak retroactive continuity...But you couldn't be more wrong in that assessment.
The city of Ishgard, since 1.0 launch, has always been at arms length but never accessible. They couldn't get away with such an obvious roadblock without backing it up with dozens of quests and NPCs explaining, in detail, why we cannot get in (let alone witness them raise a finger to support the Grand Companies' many campaigns in the MSQ), which over the past five years became an inherent proof positive that attaining such access would not be as simple as wearing a fancy level 50 outfit at the front gates. Which is exactly what people like the OP are demanding 'should happen'.
Carries still happen. Even vets benefit from easy tomes, spiritbonding, desynth/lights and leveling alts in the process. Why can't your friends look at it like that, and not leave your newly migrated folks to fend for themselves? SE gave you lemons, why not make lemonade.
People confusing Sandbox with Sandparks/Themeparks again.
Only one well-known MMO Sandbox has stood the test of time with resounding success, because the model is VERY difficult to sustain, let alone thrive.
XIV is not EVE, nor should it strive to be.
Tuathaa is counting lucis as relics. I know, hilariously misleading. Just figured I would save you the trouble of arguing.
Are you required to have the Ishgard access in order to continue to XP or profit as DoH/DoL? I believe your argument is a little specious.