I'm not nearly as critical as most on Dawntrail, BUT...

[Corgain]

Yeah, that's the point.

Part of the story around Alexandria and Preservation (I don't know how far you've gotten so I'll be vague) is that they have a toxic relationship with their past, which is represented by 'FFIX Alexandria', or at least a more direct adaptation of it. Alexandria venerates a history that they cannot even remember or interact with; on the other hand Preservation is provided the privilege of knowing and interacting, but treats that past with... an actually kinda difficult emotion to nail down; it's not contempt, but it's also not indifference. They know what value these things hold, they recognize that value, but they refuse to share it themselves, only using it cynically; the 7.2 and 7.3 dungeons are a great display of this, but again, not sure if you've reached them.

While I appreciate your detailed explaination, I took your tone as an allusion that I do not follow the story or something. I do. I included that in my critique. I can understand the why's and how's but still not really be a fan of the way it was done. And, no, I haven't reached post-Dawntrail yet, I was posting this from the PoV of a person that this content is wholly new to. I am close to the end of base Dawntrail, so I understand the lore behind Preservation, Oblivion, storm surge, IXth shard, etc insofar that I've gotten up to this point. This is just a minor complaint, and I'm not looking to trash the game or expac. I would honestly, like I said in my other response, they would just not do these obvious plugs from other games at all, if they are going to do them in such a strange fashion of.. well this place is the same, but not the same as that other one, despite looking almost identical (just in ruins form), having the same themes, blatant doppelgangers of that games characters, and the exact same name AND neighbors with the same names. Either give us the place and make XIV have links to actual FF universe as a whole (as in the ability to learn about the existence of OTHER FF worlds/ interact with them), or keep XIV's it's own thing with some easter eggs like XI's world largely was. Otherwise to some, like me, it just comes off as a strange, jarring inclusion, because without being the actual place, it feels impossible to be this blatantly the same AS the other place. (at least historically speaking in Alexandria's case). It's much the same with Doma, Rabanastre, Baron etc, all aslo being included in XIV's universe and being outright near copies. What are the odds that all of these identical places exist in the same universe, but have nothing to do with the others? I'm having trouble suspending my disbelief at this point is all with the story. My way, and have them BE the actual place and have a multiverse, or them not existing at all, just makes more sense to me. Is that a better explaination as to how I feel toward it?