Quote Originally Posted by ClausL View Post
You can make that disconnect if it makes you feel better, but those bonus storage packs and bonus abilities in FFXI could not be obtained unless you paid extra, real-money on top of your subscription.

It was just a cleverly disguised way to sell virtual items, if you ask me.

But I'll go along with your logic...

The fact still remains that you couldn't get several bonus abilities and storage expansions in FFXI without paying extra ($10-$100+ per). Even if it was linked to a physical item, you couldn't get that stuff without paying extra on top of your sub.
With the ability to expand your inventory and teleporting already in the game, the virtual abilities were not at all needed to enjoy the game's highest content, nor were existing services restricted to make players buy the goods. People that were buying the necklace really were buying them for the necklace. Because teleports and warps were not at all expensive and were doled out easily in any party going somewhere.