Why is the FFXIV fanbase so stubborn and resistant to change?

[Abriael]

There's useful innovations in this game?

Plenty. Just to bring in a few examples:
1: The armoury system and the ability to mix and match ability between classes
2: crafting/gathering brought to the same level of importance of adventuring and a crafting system that isn't just based on pressing a single button and praying it works.
3: class-generic equipment that allows for a reduction of the "army of clones" effect that plagues other newly-released MMORPG (everyone of the same class/level dressed exactly the same way).
4: Market system that joins the search-friendly features of an AH with the ability to windows-shop and encouraging impulse purchases.

I must be missing something.

Yep.You must be.

[Winterclaw]

Plenty. Just to bring in a few examples:
1: The armoury system and the ability to mix and match ability between classes
2: crafting/gathering brought to the same level of importance of adventuring and a crafting system that isn't just based on pressing a single button and praying it works.
3: class-generic equipment that allows for a reduction of the "army of clones" effect that plagues other newly-released MMORPG (everyone of the same class/level dressed exactly the same way).
4: Market system that joins the search-friendly features of an AH with the ability to windows-shop and encouraging impulse purchases.

1. GW has this to a degree (job/subjob) as did FF11. Games like UO and EVE don't even have classes.
2. I hate doing both of these things.
3. It's a good feature, but not exactly important gameplay-wise.
4. Making the markets more search friendly were a step in the right direction, but this game still needs a true AH instead of this.

[Abriael]

1. GW has this to a degree (job/subjob) as did FF11. Games like UO and EVE don't even have classes.

Job/subjob is a completely different setup than the armoury system. It allows a MUCH lower degree of customization. Purely skill-based systems are also completely different from the armory systems. They don't have you chose the *actions* you can perform, but numeric values, unrelated to classes (that don't exist)

2. I hate doing both of these things.

Your personal opinion. Doesn't make it less of an innovation or less relevant.

3. It's a good feature, but not exactly important gameplay-wise.

Innovations don't need to be related only to gameplay to be innovations, or relevant at that.

4. Making the markets more search friendly were a step in the right direction, but this game still needs a true AH instead of this.

Again, your personal opinion. Doesn't make it less a relevant innovation. Economy teaches that impulse purchase are extremely important for a prospering commerce. Pure AH setup kills impulse purchases, the market ward system is pretty much as convenient as an AH (as long as they get polished and evolved), but bring impulse purchases back in the picture -> relevant innovation.