I think a few people are missing some important details. Realistically, at its full strength Eorzea doesn't stand much of a chance against the full might of Garlemald. If SB showed one thing its that the full strength of the Eorzean Alliance and the Doma Resistance and their Allies only beat 1 legion spread over two provinces because their leadership was unstable and more interested in having a fight than winning. Zenos could have ended the whole thing before we even left the Fringe.

The Eorzean Alliance clearly has the means to counter enemy Airships. If it didn't Garlemald would have conquered Eorzea before our WoLs had even started their adventuring life. Just cause we don't specifically know what magic and/or weaponry they use doesn't mean it isn't the case. Hell maybe they use corrupted crystals to screw the Airship's lifters or something. As I said before, if a BLM can cast a spell that can hit a comet in outer space, a lesser casting discipline should be able to at least manage hitting an Airship.

The other thing I think a lot of people are missing is the importance of Doma and Ala Mhigo to the Garleans. They are about as provincial as you can get. They are small, relatively unimportant locations on the edge of the empire. Losing them is definitely unacceptable but most Garleans probably don't think of them much. Its a long way from the heart of the empire. Considering Zenos probably could have won if he wanted to most Garleans probably didn't expect him to let the countries fall. Varis might have but I think he has his mind on things he considers more important.

Now even then letting provinces rebel is something the Garleans don't want to let slide. However Hein specifically mentions his Shinobi travelled into Garlean territory to insight rebellion in provinces inspired by Ala Mhigo and Doma. That means that currently Garlemald is focused on keeping the territories it still holds under control. We know for example that Rabinastre rebelled. There are likely other areas too. The Garleans aren't going to go after Doma and Ala Mhigo when they risk losing provinces they still hold. Doing so would further risk destabilisation as the likelihood for conscripts to desert if their homeland has rebelled will increase.\

Honestly I am not sure what people wanted. Did you want us to lose? Its hardly like we took the Doma and Ala Mhigo without a fight.

I also wouldn't point to WoW as a great example of an alternative. WoW generally has the current villain do something destructive at the start of the expansion and then literally the rest of the expansion is that villain and all its agents getting steamrolled. The 'endless population' issue is one that is true for all factions within WoW. The Alliance races have been devastated as much as the Horde ones have and they are able to put up just as many troops. I would argue that FF14 has more of a sense of risk of losing. The fact that Zenos could so casually kick our asses actually made him seem like an intimidating threat.

Of course there is always going to be limitation on what they can show. It is an MMO after all. Nidhogg couldn't realistically destroy Ishgard, which was his goal. That would be impractical. What if someone hadn't levelled a DRK and wanted to? What if they wanted to do side quests? What about any achievements tied to the city? Now referring back to WoW, they are doing something pretty flashy in their expansion with the destruction of two hubs but they have highly refined tech which allows them to have the city in different 'phases' so a player can switch back to the old version if they wish. I don't think FF14's engine has as flexible phasing as an option.

In the end I see us moving away from open war and more into a political one. I don't think in the end Garlemald will seriously try to take back either Doma or Ala Mhigo. If they turn up they will be after something else. Events are starting to spin up in Garlemald and honestly I think the powers that be there are going to be less concerned about a couple of upstart border provinces than whatever is going to be starting to move in the heart of Garlemald.

Oh yeah and the Eorzean Alliance isn't going to invade Garlemald. They don't have the numbers, the resources or the capacity to manage that. Not even close.