Is FFXIV viable as an MMORPG without doing end-game & raiding?

[Kaurie]

Yes, I would say it is.

The Savage and EX content is an extremely small slice of the game's content, even at the level cap. Nearly all of the added content is aimed at non-raiders, including dungeons, normal mode Alexander, 24-man "raids" (which aren't really raids in the traditional MMO sense), tomestone gear, and so on.

The majority of players don't even do Savage or EX Primals, after all, and the game seems to be doing quite well for itself.

I think there is a subset of players who probably could or should raid that don't for whatever reason (such as not wanting or being able to find a static group) who are likely to suffer burnout, though, as the game doesn't have much content "in between" the non-raid and the raid (that is, Savage/EX) content.

I would say that all of the extra content is used to get you ready for raiding. For example, you run dungeons to get tomes so you can buy max gear for raiding. You run Alex normal to get gear so you can buy higher gear for raiding. You craft so you can make potions and food for raiding.

I am sure people enjoy these activities outside of raiding, but I wouldn't go as far as saying they are separate content. They're more like a pre-requisite. The better player you are, the less of this you need, and the worse player you are the more you need (i.e. clearing prior to or with Void Ark/Thordan gear).