This game is on a terrible state right now.

[Jojoya]

They should think that people are sad that this new content is finished after just 4 hours (12 runs for the notes, one takes 20 minutens) and that there is no reason to ever set foot into this new awesome dungeon again (well I thought it was boring but whatever).

Even if you go slow the variant dungeon can barely entertain you for more than 3 evenings.

And criterion is overtuned for the majority of playerbase and yes it takes too much effort for too little rewards. When you have to decide between progressing savage raids or criterion dungeon... which one rewards your time spent better?

I suppose that depends on not just what rewards you enjoy but what rewards you currently need/desire.

Generally, we're always going to prioritize content that gives us what we currently feel we need first. Once that needs is taken care of, then we move to the things we want or maybe just find fun.

Perhaps the problem with Criterion was really the timing. It was released a few weeks after Abyssos. It makes sense that Criterion wouldn't feel compelling when it doesn't reward BiS gear at a time in the expansion cycle that players are farming for the new BiS gear.

How would players have felt if Criterion had been released in 6.35 instead of 6.25? By then, most statics would have had Abyssos cleared and BiS gear for at least their main jobs if not also one or two of their alt jobs. They've got less to do and are starting to think about 6.4. Perhaps they aren't interested in the glamour or housing items for personal use but they're a good way to make gil for buying the things that will be needed to start Anabaseios progression.

Do you think timing the release differently might have made players (not necessarily yourself) feel better about Criterion?

Edit to add in that one glaring problem with Criterion is it failed to address the lack of midcore content the player base is looking for. But it was still something that was innovative for the game and should be given credit for at least that much.