Unless I spent extra, I couldn't get certain items in FFXI. Yes, that is fact...

whether you want to call it microtransactions or not is up for debate, but one thing is FACT: I could not access the Mog Satchel storage box, Tidal Talisman teleporting abilities, etc. without paying real money on top of my subscription.

There's no reason to think XIV: ARR won't do something similar.