Mediocrity should NOT be the standard for players in any content.

[Valic]

You really didn't address anything I said. I understand the gear requirements and that people should have the right level gear for certain dungeons, so I will agree with you on that. However, people retain information differently (I can't retain it at all) and people learn differently. Also, as I said this is a GAME and your frustration while warranted, is not accounted for in this game's design. People have right to be great just as they have every right to be awful and not care. While this can truly be a bone of contention for players who want to swiftly clear content and move along, it is just part of playing an MMO.

Thankfully, despite my issues remembering dungeons and mechanics I am at least completely geared and augmented, so I am not a complete failure in life.

I did address it in the sentence mentioning trying to learn is fine. As for it being a game, I don't find that as an excuse for mediocrity. In a time years ago, you had to do as kids say now "get gud" to keep going into a game's story. See games like "Getting Over It With Bennet Foddy" that remind you there were times when a game's difficulty was driven by their own will to continue and succeed. Your victory was granted by the effort you gave, not because the developers deigned you guaranteed access to "win". A speedy clear or not, that shouldn't be the end result of learning how to be geared and use your skills. The problem here is there is no line for this type of deal. In your case, again I say... fine if you retain information differently than others but you at least understand what an aoe is, you understand a stack marker = stack, you understand a tank is made to tank... common practices. A group should not be able to defeat or complete a dungeon if they can't grasp these basics imo. In the same way that if you were playing Mario, you don't beat the level if you don't find a way to jump over a platform correctly. The same way if you try to beat a Zelda game, you have to identify what you need in gear to defeat the boss and when to strike. The same way in prior FF games that you have to decide what magic to use, when to heal, when to deal damage, and how much of it needs to go out to who. The same reason in a metal gear solid game, you have to identify when to walk/run/crawl or be stealth vs killing something. FFXIV? Hit 1, repeat.... you win. Lose? Nah, the developers will cover that for you and you will either just have a very brutal and long win, or a quick win.. either way, you win.

I want to say you're missing my point herein that this game is not setting a line for doing the bare minimum of challenge. I'm not asking for complicated patterns and steps that confound people. I'm saying that you level your class, you should be able to do what your class does or else the penalty is defeat. There should be some form of tutorial forced on you in the game that you AREN'T allowed a pass through with an easy clear of. That forces the average player to understand they need to identify things, even if they fail at them don't remember them, or etc... They HAVE to be able to do X to "win". this game's "X" is very.. very... very... lacking in base requirements.