This whole Meta Party thing is hurting me. x_x

[Bourne_Endeavor]

This is a really bad case of putting words in my mouth. My claim (which really isn't a claim, as it is a fact): the developers have a higher quality of data than the players do. Ergo, when objective data analysis is done, I (and everyone else, quite frankly) should put far, far more weight into the developers claims (since) they are working from a higher quality of data.

Development metrics, internal numbers, more thorough understanding of how skills and abilities interact with each other, better testing environments—all this, combined with far more logs than any player has seen, gives the developers a much higher quality of data.

I have done no such thing. If the developers have data we aren't privy to that demonstrably disapproves the meta, in-game battle logs are relaying inaccurate information. Regardless, we know your statement false because the developers have on, numerous occasions, been outsmarted by the playerbase. They never anticipated players who precast Huton or blow Infuriate/Raw Intuition and delay pulling. For an entire expansion they insisted Paladins were fine yet caved come Stormblood.

They don't actually have a better understanding. None of the dev team plays at even a remotely comparable level to World First raiders. This is true of virtually every game due to time constraints. A primary reason many games employ test servers is for this very reason.

I fear you are misreading Yoshida. When he says that 'there are no major advantages or disadvantages to any setup,' the suggestion is very clear: the perceived advantages and disadvantages of the "meta" are not as profound as players make them out to be. So why? The higher quality of data the developers are privy to suggest this, which is why he said what he said.

Operative word being "major." Perception is key here. The devs do not necessarily see Bard missing out of Battle Litany or Disembowel as a "major disadvantage" because their only concern is can every job clear the content. Yoshida's statement is both casual minded and intended to stop people locking out certain jobs. It's a PR response and little else. It has absolutely nothing to do with "higher quality data" or whatever other nebulous term. I mean, consider the alternative. Paying customers wouldn't exactly be pleased to hear the Producer say, "Yeah, no. Samurai is useless. Play Dragoon/Ninja," if they enjoyed the former.

Put simply, the devs aren't looking at FFlogs but simply viability. They couldn't care less if you clear seconds before enrage with the bare minimal amount of DPS or three minutes ahead. Both groups cleared, which is all they care about.