being new and @ level 50 is killing my interest

[Akuryu]

This strategy of requiring story completion to play new expansions cannot continue on past this one. If the next expansion (4.0) requires you to complete all of 2.x and all of 3.x, then they might as well slap a "new players need not apply" sticker on the box. That's too steep a mountain to climb just so a new player can enjoy "current" content.

What about 5 years from now, when we have several expansions? "FINALLY convinced my wife to play the game with me! I'm hoping to have her caught up by next February..."

And that whole "it's a Final Fantasy game, you should expect it" argument is such BS. You didn't have to clear Chains of Promathia to visit Whitegate. You didn't have to finish Aht Urhgan to unlock scholar. Final Fantasy XIII-2 doesn't require a completed save file from the first game just to play.