So anyone else tired of grinding tomes weekly for gear?

[Yasuhiro]

I don't feel that way at all, not in the least bit. Then again, I never enjoyed FFXI in the first place, so I don't have this nostalgia veil that many former FFXI players seem to possess
I never ever want HNMs to come back, or open-world dungeons for that matter. Your definition of "fun" - and that of many other former FFXI players who answered this thread - seems to be very different from mine. Which is fine!
But I feel like I need to say that I do not share your view.

Can't tell if this post is bait or not with the condescending winking emotes but I'll bite considering this is the Final Fantasy XIV forums.
Why are you assuming Final Fantasy XI players are talking through nostalgia goggles and not from the heart because it might actually be *shocker* a great MMO and a good Final Fantasy? Sounds incredibly shallow of you to put it that way just because you didn't like. I'm a new player to Final Fantasy XI and I'm loving it, I find myself logging into that game more and more I applaud it for not holding your hand with quest markers or dumb carrot on the stick tactics to keep people interested I love the sense of adventure I get from this, I'm having a really good time playing XI so if new players like me with no past attachment to the game can pick up and play it then I don't think you have any right to say FFXI players have their rose tinted glasses on.

I do make it sound like I hate XIV it's actually my least favorite Final Fantasy game but I think there's some fun to be had with it and I appreciate it for being a fan service game for us long time fans.