XIII is good or bad depending on whether or not you like/dislike linear storytelling, which seemed to be the biggest complaint with that game. (I didn't mind it, as it worked within the fugitive storyline.) As for FFXIV, I've been seeing more and more people online as of late, many who I was pretty sure had left months ago. I even ran into an old LS-mate from FFXI just yesterday. That would tell me that the game is now at a point where it can compete with the rest of the MMO market, even if it is not taking up the majority of the market share, so how is SE messing up?

Also, I really don't think you can solidly define a Final Fantasy game, as they all add something new or different to the franchise. I'm sure people screamed that FF isn't an MMO when XI came out, nine years later, it's considered one of the definitive titles. Hell, the original game was to be the last game published by Square before declaring bankruptcy back in the 80's. (Hence the "Final") I honestly doubt most of the so-called fanboys who are whining about how the franchise is going downhill had ever heard about the series or even cared until FF7 came out.