To answer your question, its because 14 had the best gameplay loop at endgame. The rotational complexity puts alot of other mmos to shame. However, it is also a shame they keep reducing these every xpac. As for a more practical solution to my "woes" SE needs to put in more roadblocks you have to clear to progress. Lock DF until you do you job quest. Lock people from participating unless they are of adequate ilvl. Lock people from queuing at 30 if they dont have their job stone equipped, and stop them from gaining xp until they do so. It's so easy to be adequate at this game, its unreal players aren't for the most part. This might just be a NA problem though.