Playing an expansion as current content has been a lacklustre MMO experience

[DPZ2]

I'd like to stop playing this game alone 90% of the time for once, and Roulette doesn't count anymore because nobody ever has a reason to talk to each other, we all just kinda exist in the same area for 20 minutes and separate.

The primary solution to your problem would be to participate an active Free Company? One with an active 'chat' stream or linkshell that is dedicated to those going through current content. One that has a dedicated group of players with a range of interests, from crafting to raiding to PvP to High Fashion. And Role Players.

Unfortunately, all MMORPGs are single player games set in a shared world. Player participation is encouraged, but not demanded. It has been that way since the great grandaddy of commercial MMORPGs (Scepter of Goth) first hit the Minneapolis online community nearly 40 years ago.

It gets more difficult year after year to get anyone into XIV with how much of a time investment the basic MSQ has become

Solution: have them purchase the game with a story and job skip. Encourage them to experience past expansions through the New Game+ feature. Be there for them when they want to run older dungeon instances the first time. Ensure they join an active Free Company that is more than 20 people with different schedules who game mostly on the weekend.

The MSQ does not have to be the stumbling block.