I am so against this idea for so many reasons. It is blatantly wrong.
Whatever the big picture is this is blatantly wrong.
Who actually wants this to the point they would fight for it?
I know that it either doesnt matter and people will adjust, or its such a bad idea it can only fail.
It's not a must to keep players from hating the game, it does the opposite, it is a punishment.
If Se insists on this change they may as well rename it "An Auschwitz Reborn" and give up now before they spend another penny. It won't be fun. It won't attract new players, it will be a roadblock thats all.
If the goal is to sabotage FFXIV this will work.
Forget about doing a media tour, talking about ingame economy, crafting, melds, crafter signatures, forget about everything, it wont matter when there is not enough people willing to pay to play for this game that it becomes SE's greatest emberassment of a financial liability and they sink it to the ground on purpose. Maybe its a conspiracy. To deny your own company of vital revenue and potential growth to dominate the market and become the next greatest MMORPG makes no sense. I have waited and waited for this game forever. Limiting player interaction in a MMORPG is wrong.
Unless i'm mistaken and this was not intended to be a MMORPG. There is in fact a rediculously large amount of intelligent consumers patiently waiting for a new MMORPG that is worth playing with there friends.
I hope someone who deals with the dev team reads these forums and can help express how important it is to seriously considers the gravity of launching this game again with equipment binding as its fatal flaws. Not to say this damage isn't irreversal (at this point it could be) but it's not a necessary risk. Prior to the shut down for "A Realm Reborn" the game was actually very playable and fun. It has come so far so please don't ruin my favourate game. I already talked endlessly with people about why they quit and what they are waiting for before they will come back.
Equipment binding is wrong on so many levels and serves no purpose that couldn't be settled through a more interactive and exciting option of play that makes everybody happy.
I would be happy to see a forum of a legitimate reason (From SE) explaining why equipment binding is even considered and if they are open to suggestions.