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

[Abriael]

I get the feeling alot more people will leave than come back. Besides, the real reason why everyone's leaving is because there's nothing to do.

Exactly. The majority of the ones that responded to the polls asked for more *content* to be implemented first. Most flaws in the systems (besides the most glaring ones, and in many cases not even those) aren't even noticed by the average player that just comes in to have a good time. What the average player notices is that the game doesn't give him stuff to occupy his time with.