Been running Ridorana Lighthouse the whole week and...

[Awha]

I really only have one question: what problem did this change solve?

Would not say this change solves a problem nor would I think reverting it would solve a problem. Since the problem is based on the perception of those that it has effected. For example I know my view is not popular, but I am of the mindset that everyone in a group should have equal chance at rolling on a item and roles inherently should not grant priority. So this change makes head way towards that ideal personally, while if you feel otherwise the change hinders their ideal which it does. While I would like for SE to expand on this system I highly doubt it will stay in place for much longer since the majority of players seem to dislike the change which is understandable.

Fairness and equality are not the same thing, this new system treats everyone equally but not necessarily fairly. I saw a drg get outrolled on a chestpiece by a person who didn't even have lancer unlocked, that is not fair. The gear aligning with the role you chose is a less equal but more fair system, a tank gets first shot at tank gear, a healer gets first shot at healer gear. A bard winning a tank piece when a tank inside the group, tanking for that bard needs it and wanted it, is unfair.

Most of all, nothing was wrong with the old system nor was it complained about. This change was unwanted and unnecessary.

You are right fairness and equality are the not the same, and that is why I said to me personally seems unfair. Though outside of that I have said overall the change puts everyone on a equal playing field which overall in my view is better then granting priority to roles / jobs. I rather have everyone overall be on equal footing then have some players have what I feel is an unfair priority. SE tried something new, and I personally like the new direction, though as I said before I doubt i t will stay in place for long since most people seem to dislike the change. As I said before to me having a equal system trumps having a so called fair one.

[Trunks]

Would not say this change solves a problem nor would I think reverting it would solve a problem.

If there was no problem they should not have changed it. Your "ideal" is all well and good, but the fact is that no other content handles loot rolls this way -- and there are a number of good reasons for that. In deviating from the way people generally expect the game to work (because that's how the game has worked in all content up to that point), they really should have offered a compelling rationale. No such rationale has been articulated, to my knowledge, by any party.

Perhaps the reasoning is "it makes it easier to gear off-Jobs". Well, maybe, but we're talking about a raid with a weekly loot lockout. (And besides, do we really want to start giving people gear for Jobs which they aren't earning by playing that Job?) The only other thing I can come up with is that they're trying to force people who want gear from Lighthouse to have to run it more to get what they want from it. That's an odd route to take for second-rate gear that's supposed to help players "catch up" (and almost comical given the absurdities they've unleashed with their failure to implement hard or soft enrages on the bosses in there).

It just makes no sense, from any angle.