I'll never understand the "no endgame contents" crowd. You're in starter 50 gear, rings you crafted yourself, and weapons you bought and were boosted through. It's a social game - get social, buying your experiences is shallow, which is exactly your view of the game. Join or make an FC. Get 7 other players. Work on it. That's the point.

Crafted gear is better than DL gear - you're a capable crafter, so craft it.

Grinding AK? Once a day will do. Consider it a daily - it takes 35 minutes. No endgame content? The coil awaits, you've yet to try it.

The only change i'd make right now, is to balance the rewards between AK and Wanderer's - both should reward 80 Phil, 40 Myth. A little more choice would be nice.

I really like FFXIV because it feels more old school than most. I'm not rushing, not grinding, not farming, but I am having fun with my FC - a group of players i've known and played with for almost a decade. Three more dungeons, PvP, housing and a 24 man raid on the way too. This game is in surprisingly good shape IMHO.