What does Heavensward actually bring to the table as an expansion?

[Fendred]

Look at 1.0. That was done with the spirit of XI in mind and look how difficult it was for casual/midcore players. So much so that 1.0 flopped HARD.

FFXIV 1.0 wasn't a finished game. It was an alpha product released as a finished product. Trying to compare the FFXI to the broken state of FFXIV 1.0 is comparing a mustang to a half built car.

Also, FFXI actually managed to get people to play with one another and develop relationships as they leveled. That is something FFXIV:ARR simply does not do as well. People aren't any more distrusting of others now than they were when FFXI came out. It was just that FFXI was built with Everquest as a role model. Everquest still has a healthy player base despite being incredibly old. Such is the staying power of the community it created.