Leveling isn't hard with the correct leve's and enough people to link with, the problem is that its boring. At least in FFXI you got to SEE the game world by going to different regions to exp. In 14 its basically just nophica wells, broken water, cedarwood, cassiopeia hollow.

Leveling in its current state is very poor in 14, I never see any grind parties that aren't 44+ raptors. We don't see enough of the game world on our journey to 50 IMO.