Just played Final Fantasy XI

[Enkidoh]

Things like the awful EXP loss penalty on death that would even level you backwards if you were unlucky to die while being too close to the previous level still EXP wise (you lost 10% of the total exp needed for the next level when you died, raising gave some of that lost exp back), enemies being ridiculously dangerous even for minor trash mob wildlife like rabbits and yet giving minuscule EXP for it, having to party for everything and even then certain content pretty much restricting party make up to certain Jobs, airships running on tight schedules that all too often would result in players missing one by the skin of their teeth and then having to waste 10+ minutes of real time sitting doing nothing on the dock waiting for the next one, people abusing NIN as a subjob for Utsusemi thinking it made them invincible and then not accepting that it didn't (and thus leaving WHMs like me to have to raise them for their stupidity), no minimap, quest journal that was virtually useless and told you nothing about what you needed to do for a quest (thus forcing you to look online for the (often misleading, incomplete or inaccurate) information, important quests (even main scenario ones) that were locked behind invisible 'fame' counters for each city that forced you to do thousands of pointless fetch quests just to 'build up fame', need I go on?

The game hasn't been like that for like, how many years? You're bashing the game for something that doesn't exist anymore.

Actually apart from most of the game is now soloable and no longer requiring parties to accomplish anything (apart from the Seekers of Adoulin and Rhapsodies of Vana'diel missions and current endgame content) due to a combination of the level cap being increased to 99, solo-orientated levelling content and most importantly, the Trust NPC system being added (probably the most important and welcomed change made to the game), said NPC system basically spitting in the face of the established 'must use this and this Job in that battle to succeed' strategy, and the 'EXP loss on death' being mostly neutered (EXP is no longer lost if you die under under level 50, and the amount you lose above that is greatly reduced), everything else I mentioned is still applicable even to the game as it is now.

Enemies are still dangerous to new/low level players (although the level cap increase means most overworld enemies are less intimidating than they used to be at high levels, some will still agro even a level 99 player in some of the more outlying areas). Airships still run on set timetables and still require you to waste time waiting at the dock for the next one if you're unlucky to miss is (and in fact, with the addition of easy home-point teleportation airships are now completely redundant, thus making it even more annoyingly apparent). People still abuse Utsusemi thinking it makes them invincible and then whine when a mob tears through their shadows and kills them in one hit (and then blames the healer for it). There is still no minimap (although the on-screen compass now shows npcs and enemies on it). Quest journal is still completely worthless. Quests and missions are still locked behind the fame counters that require you to do monotonous tasks like trading hundreds of cabbages just to unlock them.

I admit that although I am somewhat jaded by FFXI, again I must stress that I do love FFXI still (and the major changes and additions to the game over the past four or so years (many of which copied actually from FFXIV!) have only improved it considerably). It's just the harsh, unforgiving approach to gameplay I endured in it's 'prime' and that it's now greatly aging design and core systems show just how much of an anachronism the game is now fundamentally, a legacy from an earlier time when MMORPGs required enormous player investment, a time that gaming has thankfully moved on from, and which FFXIV is an example of what MMORPGs are now expected to be like.

[Justuas]

Airships still run on set timetables and still require you to waste time waiting at the dock for the next one. Quests and missions are still locked behind the fame counters that require you to do monotonous tasks like trading hundreds of cabbages just to unlock them. People still abuse Utsusemi thinking it makes them invincible and then whine when a mob tears through their shadows and kills them in one hit (and then blames the healer for it). (more coming)

Actually there are very few reasons to use airships anymore. The fame requirements for quests and missions have been nerfed. Utsusemi isn't a thing anymore and you can only abuse it in a few NMs. Agreed on the quest journal part but you use wiki anyway.

[Moomba33]

I've been playing XI casually since last August to get through the storylines. I'm partway through Wings of the Goddess at the moment.

It has really made me appreciate XIV more. There are just so many small inconveniences like having to manually move gear into your Mog Wardrobe or trade Crystals to Ephemeral Moogles instead of them automatically going into the right storage. Also a pain having to have a wiki open at all times to figure out how to progress.

I think most of the Airship and Ferry rides can be avoided now with the Unity teleport system. I haven't used it though since I've been trying to visit each zone for the first time by old methods so I have a better feel for the layout of the world.
In any case most areas have fast travel options now through Home Point or Survival Guide teleportation so you only have to reach them the long way once.

All that being said I am enjoying the stories the game has to share. FF never disappoints me with its music and world and XI is no exception. Eorzea will always feel more like home (regardless of quality it has first MMO nostalgia on its side) but I like Vana'diel as well.