I would also be heartbroken if this system was removed. This is one of the things about FFXIV i love the most.

Frankly, I am questioning whether the job system is the most awesome system that could be implemented here, but without being able to see it in practice, I cannot come to a proper solution.

Might be too late to mention this here, but what I had envisioned was an unlockable class tree. Levelling up one basic class to 50 would unlock advanced classes in that area. Levelling up an advanced class would unlock a master class. You could even eventually implement secret classes that would involve finishing multiple master classes. I feel like making it 50 rather than say 30 would make the unlockable classes more gratifying to obtain and add a hardcore element to the system.

For example, if you ranked up Pugilist to 50 it would unlock, say, Monk, Thief and Soldier as advanced classes. Monk 50 would unlock Bishop. Bishop 50 and another master class would unlock Templar. I shouldn't have to mention the plethora of classes that have been used in previous FF's.

The possibilities are truly endless and only limited to how many unique abilities could be thought up and that is where the creativity of the developers would come in. You could have over 50 classes to choose from. Combine this with the armoury system and you could create a truly unique character build with so many abilities to choose from.

I truly believe this is an everybody wins solution here. Casual players can be satisfied with having a basic class at rank 50 and be able to participate in endgame activities. Hardcore players can aim to complete multiple master classes for a specialized powerful character build of abilities. For the ultra hardcore, complete all classes.

If the time it took to level a class to 50 was, say, 1-3 months, this would allow new players to jump right in, get a class to 50, and play with their friends. If there was a problem with coming up with so many abilities, abilities could be learned every 5 levels.

Anyway, just what I had envisioned for the armoury system. I remain, for the time being, to have faith in the development team to come up with a system that is just as awesome or more so. ^^