Just in case folks from SE read this thread, I want to voice my opinion that the GC restrictions are fine. Sure, it means you have to wait longer in between matches, but it makes the battles more meaningful. I've played large-scale pvp battles in other mmos where it's just a random hodge-podge of players assigned to different teams and it isn't nearly as rewarding.

FFXIV has made a commitment (a rare one at that in the midst of most current MMOs [and it seems to be paying off in terms of critical and commercial success]) to story and lore--this makes everything in-game more meaningful. If players don't like that there're plenty of bland mmos out there.

Tweaks that may make the matching system more efficient or changes that would result in a greater abundance of matches? Great! But doing away with lore-based GC restrictions is lame. Then pvp is just for the sake of pvp, and there're zillions of other games out there to scratch that itch.

Now, bring on the flames!