I find it pretty shortsighted to call anything a [X]Clone. In the world of MMOs, we're all playing Dungeons & Dragons, but we're all playing with radically different DMs who are varying levels of competent in what their friend group finds "Fun."

If WoW has good things to offer the future of MMOs, those traits should live on -- hopefully the WoW we take in will replace the aspects of FFXI that made it a rather masochistic addiction at times.

I doubt we'll ever move too too far out of the sandbox though. When I see a Skill Tree, I'll give you your silver for a wise prediction.