I started FFXI a few expansions in, but I loved how you didn't get baby sat for everything you did. You needed to interact with people which I guess some could say would be a downfall. But in my opinion it made the community that much more awesome. FFXIV has a awesome community but I'm sure a few of us have ran into bad apples here and there. FFXI also felt like a actual WORLD you were discovering and felt like every zone was alive. I guess the most important thing was the Jobs. Before Abbysea you had to grind your job up. If you was a mage you had to grind for your spells or if you was a ranger you had to buy or craft your arrows. If you were good at your job you were well known. People looked up to you and you were respected.