Gonna be honest-as I usually mostly am. Lot of responses here are cringe.
"I dont feel any sympathy!!" "He got what he deserved!!" "Why should I show empathy for anyone who-"
You should show empathy because empathy is a basic human instinct, and the only instinct we have that separates man from beast. You're only alive today because of the empathy of the hospital staff that delivered you safely despite your annoying cries that continue to this day.

It's a video game, so no I don't care if someone gets caught doing something bad, whatever, it happens. It's something you're always going to see-usually younger people or newer players do this to themselves. First offense for something like that should be maybe a month or two ban. Not permanent, that's silly. You don't even get rid of actual bots permanently, so getting rid of the few players remaining permanently is silly. Should offer them another chance. Always hate the sin, not the sinner-especially if we're literally talking about a video game.

They also need to be a lot more clear about how exactly ban for each and every exact offense work. FFXIV bans have historically been very vague and inconsistent, and that is not a good way to operate at all. Reading the ban page myself right now, and it is re-confirming that to me. They talk about there being an offense scale, then offense points accumulated, then end with a very wishywoshy "sometimes we might skip all this and do even worse, but sometimes not". Utmost clarity should always be the goal. It should never be the case that some people are punished harshly, and some arent for the exact same offense. Has to be the same across the board, otherwise you just end up having to punish + lose more players because they dont actually know what the real punishment will be. "well maybe the gm had a bad d-" if im not allowed to pms at work, gms arent either. "well we dont even want those p-" Dont care, dont type that at me-be more clear about exact punishments, thank you. "Well the rules-" don't care, don't type that to me either, I'm talking about specifically listing in great detail the ironclad unchanging punishments for every offense there is, thank you.

Ironclad unchanging list of punishments for every offense there is, thank you-I took the time to type that twice, because I already know someone is thinking to copy and paste a link that directs me somewhere that has nothing of the sort, because reading comprehension is apparently a luxury afforded to few-don't subject me to that, I like to pretend the future still has hope. OP, have your friend appeal and beg upon the mercy of FFXIV court. He might be fine. He should be sincere in his apology and regret though. Goodluck.