Quote Originally Posted by basketofseals View Post
If they use a super conservative amount of time, then I see no harm. I think it's fair to say that if someone hasn't logged in in 3 years, then they're not really gonna wanna keep that name.
I don't think that is fair at all. I don't think that they should ever remove characters to free up certain names. However I have to say that irrespective of anything else if the account that a character is attached to is active, even if the character hasn't been touched in 3 years, then that character needs to be considered to be active.

Regarding names and the stated desire of some to remove characters to free up a name for them... I don't agree that anyone's characters - even if you consider them an obvious placeholder for a name - should be removed because someone wants to use the exact same name. Have a bit of imagination, use the forename and change the last name. You don't need the exact name and spelling to play a character that is like one from a fictional source. Even if you're just using a known character from some other source as inspiration, you don't need to have their exact name.

My Kosmos is inspired by KOS-MOS from Xenosaga, and also my character from my last MMORPG who was also based on/inspired by KOS-MOS. But, that Kosmos became known as Kos or Kossy, and took on a character of her own. When I came to Eorzea, Kosmos got a new last name, and an appearance a bit closer to the original inspiration, but she's still Kos, Kossy or Kosmos, and always will be.