Way to try to sound like you're right in your bolded comment at the top, but just no. I play a role in mass effect. I play a role in MvC. I play a role in every game I play. That isn't what makes an RPG an RPG.

As far as referencing XI. Nms/Hnms were hard for about 6 months, then anyone knew how to fight them. Same with sea mobs, sky mobs, etc. I'm not trying to debate this though, but saying RPGs don't put you into endgame in THREE DAYS.

Even staying within the franchise.... How long did the other FF games take? Pick your favorite, it doesn't matter which you choose. Games like morrowwind? EQ? Chrono-trigger? Even NWN and other D&D titles? Hell Diablo feels more like RPG than XIV when i see stuff like that.

There is a devotion of time inherent to RPGs that is a major draw of the genre. It always has been and always should be. It is about, to a vast majority i'm guessing, building and growing your character. Not simply rushing to endgame cuz its the "only fun part" as i've heard said before. I thought PL was awful in XI as it led to less skill among the player base.... now I see the PL from XIV and think "maybe it wasn't so bad in XI".

Repeating the same events over and over in XIV doesn't build ability. It just teaches the people who got PL'd how to do that one particular fight. It doesn't teach much about the overall game or how to play outside those fights.