I do not have a "Main" I want to gear all jobs, change weekly gatings?

[Shurrikhan]

Why should it be alt friendly if you can do everything on 1 character and don't need alts?

Any roles/jobs/classes/gear types other than your primary... are alts. The term is not solely applied to separate characters. Yet by placing them on one character in this game, each is allotted fewer opportunities. In other words, the game forces you, if you want optimal gearing, to put each gear type on a separate character, despite holding the selling point of all in one.

The issue is you absolutely can't do everything on one character. To have the same freedom as in other MMOs, then like any other MMO, you must place every gear type on a separate character. It's counter-intuitive.

Because you're looking at it from the wrong perspective. "All classes on one character" isn't the same as "all classes equally geared on one character." Note the distinction.

Don't think about the ilvl when switching to alts. If you want to play something else, go right ahead.

But why have that disclamatory factor at all, when every other MMO allows you to equally gear every class so long as you have the time and interest. Even XIV allows it, as long as you do NOT do the one thing it uniquely offers—placing all alts on one character.

Let's compare this to virtually any other MMO then, where each class has its own character...

Let's say in WoW I raid on and gear up my Warrior with/for some friend's guild. However, I really enjoy healing and I have time and interest enough to want to raid as a healer as well. But because I've already raided on different class this week, I'm unable to receive loot for the healer from those raids, and likewise prevent half the loot of anyone I raid with. Similarly, if I wish to have any grindable loot on my healer, I must sacrifice it from what's available to my Warrior. How would that make sense?

And yet, that's FFXIV's 'all-in-one' in a nutshell. Placing one's alts on the same character as one's main class is inferior in every way except ease of farming non-capped gear, generally just by being better able to meet inflated ilvl requirements (e.g. i315+ required for Lakshimi).