Jynx has good points and doesn't seem to be being a brick wall.

There are 2 arguments here

1. Easy-mode the game, allow players to choose to do things efficiently (ex insta-travel), avoid a time sink game like FFXI
2. Leave time-sinks in, if you play an MMO you should be able to devote time, don't easy-mode things

both have pro's and con's

But SE has made a successful number "2" game and has failed to make number "1" even a bit successful for a year now.
Rationally if you have a product that is successful it makes sense to take the good things from it (and the whole mass world, sense of exploration, story,engaging world + lore, was praised in reviews for ffxi) and use those when you create a new product.
SE tried a different route, it didn't work, its not working. So why stick to it. FFXIV will have nothing competitive in it to make it stand out from other MMOs for well over 6 months since they are so focused on the job system. They have nothing "epic" planned either. At least nothing they have told us. I mean we are looking forward to ONE primal fight. FFXI had like all the summon fights... and they werent just fights. You got to use them as summons after if your were summoner.

SE needs to play to their strengths and to what makes Final Fantasy games successful
And that isn't grinding and instancing.
Its immersion, story, and "RPing"