I think those are all valid points.
For me the worst addition is probably the way quests were implemented. Because they seem to be just another way to do leves it leaves little hope for future questlines and cutscenes. Now players view them just as an optional way to grind.

In previous FF games especially XI the unfolding story was more of a reward than a piece of gil or xp can ever hope to be.

I don't remember the story of even one single npc quest or leve in XIV and I hope the inclusion of gear rewards won't blind people from seeing how badly these story bits are written.

Most players just skip over the blocks of useless text because the designers don't trust us to remember even the most simple of instructions. And why would we as it all comes down to following red dot on the map.