So if you think other people's gripes don't effect you, you are simply wrong. This particular issue causes people to not play FFXIV. That fact is not at all debatable.
Really? Because my linkshell is adding new and steadily active members all the time. Things on my server are quite active every night.

You have no quantifiable way to prove that statement. The fact that we all still log on every night is proof to the contrary.

If PLing really is as game breaking as is claimed in this thread then people need to show SE come Jan. 6 and refuse to pay. Otherwise it's just empty talk.

I just get such a kick out of people with maxed out characters who log in regularly stating that if people are able to max out their character they're more likely to quit. Actions, as they say, speak louder than words.

Some may leave because of it, but the servers are far from ghost towns.