Why vertical progression is poorly implemented

[Preypacer]

It doesn't matter at all since there is always a superior spec. Anything less than ideal will be kicked. Remember the original xi guide that state war/whm is a good combination?

That's not nearly so commonplace as you (and others) make it sound. The only place people were that strict or demanding, was in the most difficult end-game content. This was true in FFXI, and it's true in XIV, as it is in any MMORPG out there.

For all the rest of the game, some people might be "picky" or complain if someone isn't geared as they deem "correct", but as long as people are doing their best and aren't a major liability, they're not going to get kicked.

The strict "requirements" of a small % of players, centered around a small % of the overall game content, are not reason to refuse more options to the greater %, among whom are people who would happily experiment and try out new builds.

Hell, over the course of almost 8 years, I was told all the time in XI that I had the wrong job combo, I wasn't using the optimal gear, etc. etc... but I never got kicked from a group. I even did a bit of end-game stuff, and was never kicked from those groups, either.

Also remember, there was always "one best build" for any given role, until someone took the time to experiment and try out other options, and found something that worked better. Then *that* became "the one best build". Until someone experimented and found yet another option that worked even better, etc. I lost track of how many times I saw it claimed that "setup X" was the one build to rule them all, and all else is inferior... only to have it replaced as soon as someone came along and proved otherwise.

It all boils down to group-think, and people just doing what everyone else is doing, because everyone else is doing it. Ironically, I found those quickest to say "learn how to play", in terms of character builds, were often (but not at all always) the ones who had the most to learn, because they were just following guides and playing how others told them to. Quickest way to find out if they knew what they were talking about, or just parroting what they'd been told, or read, was to simply ask them "why?". I'd ask them to explain why I wasn't geared right, or why I should be geared up the way they said. I'd ask them for specifics, numbers, etc.. Many times, they couldn't give any, and would just say "learn to play" again before dropping the subject.