Quote Originally Posted by Rath View Post
Lucis was not nerfed, and it was useful up until 58
I agree a gear reset isn't a 'nerf', but that's getting bogged down in semantics. Either way it means taking less time to reach the same point as those who did it earlier. It's far easier to get a couple 50-55 mainhands than a lucis, and since both will be replaced at 60 it's functionally the same as a nerf. It would be a direct nerf if we could craft our own lucis cheaply at 55.

Quote Originally Posted by Rath View Post
When Zeta came out it was relevant and useful, some people used Lucis to help with their MB2 even.
Two star gear is useful in the exact same way. You can use it to make the rest of your two star gear or to more easily make level 60 stuff. Zeta and Lucis weren't required for anything, they just made existing stuff a little easier. Exactly like two star. People with two star gear have already received just as much reward as Zeta and Lucis users, but some act like SE owes them more. That's the part I disagree with.

Regarding the rest, instead of speculating what SE wanted let's go right to the source (bolding mine):

Quote Originally Posted by Gildrein View Post
The intention behind implementing the scrips system was that advanced materia melding was the only method by which players could increase their stats for Disciples of the Land and Hand classes, and we reached a point where a large amount of items was required to increase stats by even a small amount. For players who wish to race to the top as quickly as possible, they will be able to use materia as they have until now, but we’ll also have an alternative route for players to gear up by gradually saving up scrips. All players will need to use scrips at some point, so there will be a difference in speed for players who spend large amounts of gil on materia, but we're implementing this system with the goal of providing a new route for leveling Disciples of the Land and Hand classes.
It sounds more to me like they wanted to preserve the ability for those with gil to power to the top quickly. They just wanted to add a second option for more casual players. I think they failed at both. Hardcore/wealthy players only get a marginal speed increase, materials are scarce to the point that they're barely being sold at all, and casual players feel more alienated than ever.