Concepts from other MMOs that would be utterly anathema to FFXIV

[Sasarayu]

FFXIV has a very high floor for an MMO but a medium height ceiling while WoW has one of the lowest floors and in its more advanced incarnations a high skill ceiling.

The typical FFXIV mentality capitalizes on the high floor. Another characteristic of the FFXIV community is how it has adopted Confucianism and admittedly some of this is actually built into the game itself, the mentor system is one example, but culturally I would say it's probably interpreted differently between Japan and the west with western players more having a stereotypical idea of old feudal class hierarchies.

A lot of players who have played mostly WoW but tried FFXIV have found themselves at the lower end of this social order and realized they are expected to "know their place" in FFXIV which is from a social community perspective something not really seen in the today more openly competitive and hybrid e-sport WoW for some 13+ years.

It's safe to say FFXIV players don't like unpredictability and a lot of systems from other games (I play mainly WoW) would not work in FFXIV from a pure gameplay PoV either. If you for example could talent your SMN to get reduced cooldown on firebird, random Bahamut Trance proccing throughout the fight and added splash damage to your Ruin 3 it would make the scripted encounters unplayable since FFXIV is all about aligning a predetermined rotation with a predetermined script and abhors any deviation.

Actually deviation and individuality is frowned upon by FFXIV both gameplay-wise as well as socially and this conformism is at the end of the day the true trademark of FFXIV. Everyone must be the same and everyone must know their place. Outside of housing and glam you don't do things creatively, instead you obey. This applies to both game mechanics and social structures within the community.

The high entrance floor for PvE, Confucian mentality and emphasis on mathematic ability combined creates an atmosphere of exceptionalism. This is how the idea of FFXIV as the most sophisticated MMO, with other MMOs as "barbarian", has emerged in the west.

As someone who find it difficult to accept constant patronizing, gatekeeping and soft toxicity I have ended up mostly alone in FFXIV while in WoW I have both friends and raid group. To me which game has the "better model" is quite clear but I guess FFXIV also appeals to me in some way since I'm still subbed and enjoy mostly the housing and crafting. Something I can do alone without others.

That being said, WoW these days don't even have a sense of community at all. FFXIV more resembles the small town atmosphere of classic WoW 15 years ago where everyone knew everyone on a server and I guess this is for good and bad.