Couple things that would be cool

[Nofacekiller]

-More areas, like why is the jungle in eastern la noscea not its own zone with expansive exploration like ff11 yuhtunga jungle?

-harder fates, seriously they are a boring button mashing grindfest

-worthwhile exp parties like ffxi

-options outside of sitting around and queueing up in endgame, like FFXI endgame options

-Name change included with fantasia potion. Why should my name remain feminine when i change to a male character?

-sense of danger in the game

[Enkidoh]

Personal opinion of course, but I'll have a go at counterpointing your suggestions:

1. Yoshi said ages ago he's planning on bringing in more areas as time goes on - some zones are indeed missing certain sections they had in 1.0 (like the West Shroud in the Black Shroud). I hated Yuhtunga Jungle with a passion in FFXI though - 1/0's Black Shroud was virtually identical to that and it was universally hated.
2. FATEs only seem easy when you have a lot of people doing them - try finding a FATE that isn't as well used (there are plenty around like that, you just have to find them).
3. Old school FFXI exp parties are considered obsolete - Yoshi said ages ago that he wants players to move over to more 'content based' exp grinding, meaning solo-based. As RMT abused exp parties anyway in FFXI (ala 'cleave parties' in Abyssea, not to mention the infamous 'wolf camp' parties in FFXIV 1.0), it's little wonder SE have decided on this policy.
4.FFXI's endgame wasn't added at launch, but took time to be implemented over many patches and expansions. You're falling into the trap of comparing a game that has just been launched with a ten year old game that has had 5 expansion packs and related content again. It will come, but give it time.
5. SE probably did this so that players can't abuse it by causing trouble, then changing their name to evade detection from other players. The Fantasia was originally only meant for 1.0 players who messed up their one chance to change their character (due to the implementation of the missing genders for some races), and was never really meant for general use, that is until they decided to give it away with the veteran rewards.
6. Unequip your endgame armour and walk, not run, through the Fogfens in Mor Dhona - see how long you last. There is danger in the game, it's just mobs are now leashed so they won't chase you through an entire zone nor agro for the most stupid reason - I always hated that in FFXI, so being able to travel from one point to another on foot without too much trouble is a welcome change.

[CrystalRainbow]

I like fates, But they need a 1 min heads up.
I hate when a 15 min fate start and it ends by 14 min remaining. Fate start but mobs not spawning for 1 min would give people a chance to get to the fate and in turn they could be harder.