So I am seeing so much back and forth between story focused mmo's vs all mmo's have lore and story.

Here is my perception of it all and I have played a lot of different MMO's

Warcraft probably has the most richest lore and story content than any other MMORPG out there. However it's not its main selling point. Fast combat and catch up mechanics, and its robust raiding and reapeatable M+'s are is its main selling points. How many players truly know why Graymane wants Sylvanas dead? Why is Saurfang so hung up about the old honorable horde? Why did the burning legion want to destroy azeroth in the first place? Why Kil'jaden hated Valen so much? Do you know why we had to open AQ40? It is all there in questing and out in the open, but ask the average wow player they will tell you they know the lore is there but its really feels unimportant to enjoy the game. Most players will reminisce about crazy boss fights, How hard mythic Argus was. Lich king fight was a awesome fight. how challenge modes in MOP were the foundation of M+ today.

Here we have Final Fantasy XIV: Has some of the best storytelling any other game has to offer to make the players feel like that truly epic moments. Square is pushing as a hard selling point. why? we do have our 4 boss 8 man raids. 2 extreme trials with a lot more in the works. Combat is as good as it ever has been in my honest opinion. But ask the players to point out some of their most epic moments they have experenced with the game....and I will place my bets that It would be the opposite reflection of what wow is now a days. .