Newcomer here, just a bit of feedback for the devs! :D

[Enkidoh]

Like FFXIV version 1.0 and FFXI before it, alts are only really for those that like playing as different races, or want to see the differences in the starting storyline with a different starting city, even though the basic elements and pacing of the main story quests are shared between all three cities. As you can switch between any class you like at will (once you've unlocked that ability at level 10), alts don't serve the same function that they do in other MMOs (i.e. to play as another class), so it's really just for vanity reasons. At least alts don't cost anything extra like they do in FFXI and did in FFXIV 1.0.

And the stat differences between races are rather miniscule at best and are easily compensated for with gear anyway, so don't be frightened about trying all classes to find one you enjoy the most and sticking with it (and remember, you can use many abilities cross class too which means levelling multiple classes is still a wise choice).