Unofficial Census 2016 for FFXIV

[Enkidoh]

So, only 225k players finished 3.3 story, eh? Which can be done actually in 1 day and takes no effort at all.

So, where are those 5 millions accounts registered / 2.7 millions playing game / 700k active players?

Looks like doomsayers were right after all, the game is dead.

Wait, back up - because not everyone finished the 3.3 story the game is automatically 'dead'? You do realize not everyone has the expansion installed? Not to mention there has been a significant amount of new players entering the game who are nowhere even near the start of 3.0 let alone 3.3. Enough with the doomsaying already - it wore thin back when people were saying the game "was dead" even during launch when servers were overloaded with too many players trying to login, and now it just seems a worn out and tired argument.

Hells, where did this 'unofficial' census get it's information from? Not server info that's for sure save of taking info from the Lodestone which is usually inaccurate anyway due to how slowly it updates. A little reality is needed here.

EDIT: and it seems I have my answer:

I just said in the OP. They were gathered through Minions and Achievements because most of the story quests end with you getting a minion/achievement so counted how many had that minion. Alexander Savage gives you a minion so it counts how many have the minion same with Yokai Watch.

You do realize that is totally inaccurate given the fact players can hide their achievements on the Lodestone from anyone but themselves? So if this 'census' can take that information even when it's locked for viewing shows that this is virtually hacking and thus is a violation of the ToS. And minions? Not everyone bothers actually using the minion items believe it or not (many players find them annoying), so again this is NOT a good way of getting an accurate snapshot of the game.

Maybe I'm just overthinking this though.