Middleground between normal/ hard content + coils of bahamut rework

[Seraphor]

The jump between Normal and Extreme is too big for the more casual players. People want to brush it off as if the game was good at introducing people to harder content with Extremes, it is not.

Something like 4 out of 5 friends found the jump too big compared to other games.

I mean, Susano EX is demonstrably easier than Sunsano normal, due to ilevel scaling, and the only new mechanic is jumping over the void gap.
Lakshmi, Titania and Innocence were similarly 'easy' in comparison to other Extremes even if harder than normal mode, and Zodiark is mostly mindless follow-the-leader.
The mid-expansion Extremes are definitely stepping stones. Though Hydaelyn is a bit of an outlier I'd say, as movement and timing is very specific.