I played WoW for 7 years before coming to XIV, and i have to say that XIV was damned refreshing to play after trying out just bout every other MMO that came out in the last few years.
So far, XIV has been the only one to give me a fluid hotkey based combat system.
Keep in mind, i use 'fluid' to describe how well the hotkeys themselves work.
Heres an example:
On WoW, i press a skill, the global cooldown begins about 250 - 400 ms later, then the skill happens. This is input lag. The server is checking whether I'm allowed to cast something before it actually lets me. This leads to combat feeling very sluggish as my character fails to respond to my input properly. On XIV, It's reversed, action happens client side, is checked for legality during the 2 - 2.5 Recast timer/ Animation sequence. Input Lag in TERA is abysmal, but thats beside the point.

On position checking, WoW actually uses a prediction system to determine where you might be. This is where you're seeing the better avoidance of red markers. This is incredibly noticeable when viewing a player lagging while you have a stable green (less than 250) ping. What you see is the player moving in a given direction, then snapping back several feet and moving in a different direction. This is also quite noticeable when playing with a Pet class (Warlock or Hunter), take a few steps forward and the pet which is supposed to stay behind you, runs in front of you for a few steps before turning back and settling next to your stopped character.
This is because the server got the message that you moved forward, then predicts that you will keep doing that and shows everyone else that you're still moving, causing you to snap back (affected player never sees this, just others looking at you)when the client corrects the server on where you are. Or just stand near a quest giver and watch as everyone seemingly runs right on past only to snap back a moment later.

Essentially, the WoW servers are assuming you moved all the way out of any given red marker because you started moving in that direction. It determines where you MIGHT be going, and assumes you to be there for determining whether or not you get hit.
XIV does not do this. XIV checks your position at frequent intervals. Most of the time, you will be checked both in and out, lower pings reduce the chance that you get caught inside a marker at a bad time, Like getting pinged on the inside edge of a marker, stepping over the line but getting hit anyway because at the time the server pinged you, you were inside the marker. (A simple fix here is to attach a position check to any skill that utilizes markers so that your positions are pinged on spell completion. Eg: Right before Titan claps his hands together for the Weight, server pings your position.)

As for animations .. Well, just watch a Beast Mastery Hunter in WoW alongside an XIV Bard, Hunter looks like its using an SMG. Or a WoW Warrior next to an XIV Warrior etc. Nothing in WoW has weight. 'Mortal Strike' in WoW has a most laughable animation/sound, especially when compared to a basic WAR skill like Skull Sunder. Dragon Kick and Demolish are both amazing examples of the awesome animations XIV has over any other MMO I've seen.
WoW has a very button mashy combat system anyway, lending itself to spamming a couple of skills as many times as you can while hitting a cooldown spell whenever its not on CD.
Pretty sure my wrist is busted from early Warrior tanking, hurray for slamming Sunder Armor/Cleave as many times per minute as humanely possible without smashing the keyboard. When i compare that to how XIV flows .. I just can't bring myself to go back to WoW.

It's unfortunate that we have positional lag in XIV, but I'll GLADLY take position lag over input lag any day. I can predodge most skills, but i cant make my internet liaise with the servers any faster.