If FFXVII is a new online game... would you move inmediately?

[Lauront]

I think that's more of a problem with FFXIV's story being linear, with a lack of RPG elements. Nothing to do really with our character being the focus of said story.

I don't disagree really, but the issue you run into IMO is that MMOs which place such a focus require the linearity in order to be able to maintain it, due to the increased work load (as well as issues about which outcome is canon or not as the world moves forward) it entails. Faction-based MMOs (WoW, SWTOR, WAR etc.) tend to be a bit different because you're then tweaking the story a bit for each faction, and I don't think it's an accident that these tend to be the MMOs I enjoy most story-wise. If an MMO could devote the resources to both a story focus and a reasonable degree of non-linearity I'd agree with your point but I think it's difficult to disentangle them in practice.

It's hard to say if I'd even theoretically move considering we have no info about what their next MMO could even be like.

However, I highly doubt that FF17 will be an MMO considering the disinterest SQEX has shown in creating and supporting 4 MMOs at once and creating more competition for themselves, especially since they've very interested in putting more support into FF14 since it's got so much wind in its sails.

Seeing how different what Yoshi has in mind for a future MMO is to XIV, XI and I imagine their DQ MMO, I don't think it'd even compete for the same type of player. Perhaps for their internal resources but they are capable of running multiple concurrent projects.

I'm absolutely sure they'd much more quickly announce a remake of the engine of XIV than make another one. Or do this just the same and rename it whatever new numbered FF it would be.

Certainly for an MMO of XIV's type, I'd agree - and they do seem to be looking into overhauling the engine. Granted, his words are non-committal, but it's much more positive about it than they've been in the past, coupled with this about the textures - a project they previously said would be highly costly.