The 1-50 MSQ experience definitely needs to be reworked.

It's embarrasing to invite friends to the game and have to continually convince them "it gets better in HW!" as they slog through Titans dinner and report to Minfilia for the 108th time. That includes the combat, having a minimal rotation and barely any ogcd's until 60+, or worse 3 buttons and no aoe in lv30 dungeons. No doubt it's terrible for business too, from what I see on other MMO forums that bring up ff14, the majority quit before 50 because "the questing was boring" or "the combat is awful".

Initial impressions are vital to a games success. They need to invest in that.