No longer able to log into Steam version with my non-Steam account. Why do this SE?

[Rhomagus]

I bought the game on steam years ago and somehow my account got nuked and I couldn't recover it even though it was still in my library. Spent a lot of time with support getting nowhere. The friend that got me back in the game bought the base game for me and I got the expansion, more or less a new account. I know most PC users go WTF when I say this, but I play using a gamepad because my favorite DPS classes feel better on one (MNK, SAM, NIN, DNC), though I'm sure my healing and tank game suffer for it, but it's the method I've learned the game on. If the gamepad won't work without the steam launcher they are going to lose my patronage over this. The friend who got me back in hasn't played in a couple months and the two friends I brought along will probably quit after I leave.

If this crap is really about gold sellers using bots or whatever then it's a shame. Gold sellers only exist because of idiots who support them....

Same here. I utilize multiple methods to interact with the game but my preferred method is with the Steam controller. I have all my profiles saved through steam. I broadcast with steam. I read the community guides and chat occasionally in the Steam XIV community. I even bought two Steam keys, for both of my accounts, so that I can launch Steam retaining all of that functionality. Since I purchased the Windows version first I'm arbitrarily locked out of registering my Steam keys. I haven't given them away, they're just sitting there unused. That was fine with me until today where now I can no longer launch my Windows account via the Steam launcher and have access to all my Steam features for which I paid the licenses to access.

Besides, this change doesn't even effect the intended demographic as there is already a workaround, within 3 hours, for Steam users to launch the game outside of Steam.