So they didn't have chocobos, airships, quests, more than 4 animations per job, spells that aren't tech demo quality, a funcional market system, and NMs...but they had these holiday events just ready to go?

I don't give a damn what they had planned at release. Clearly that plan failed.

As holiday events make up the *majority* of our new content, I'm left to assume that they in fact do take up most of the time and effort.

7 months in guys, with next to no new content that matters. Time to stop piddling around with holiday items, gear, and animations.