Say what you will of FFXIV at release, there was still a lot of stuff to do, be it in the form of crafting new items or grinding with huge parties on efts and raptors in many different areas. There was a certain newness which September brought with it that has since grown stagnant. At release, there was actually something to strive for.

And perhaps the first version update (slated under Tanaka's leadership) would have provided players with a wealth of new content to explore. And perhaps not. But one thing is definitely for sure: there has hardly been a single change since release that has aided the game in terms of content (besides the NMs). For example, these fetch -ahem- I mean "side-quests" might as well not even be in the game, in my opinion. For all the good they do, they might as well have not even implemented them. They aren't fun and exciting, nor are they natural. My life is certainly none the richer for having experienced them. (And if the rewards are anything to go by, my pockets are none the richer either).

There's a difference between content for content's sake and content that people actually enjoy. FFXIV at release had many a problem. The market wards were a drag and the UI was a logistical nightmare. But there was still enjoyable content nevertheless. And most importantly, it was content with longevity. I guess it all comes down to new horizons. If there is nothing new or unknown on the horizon, people won't enjoy themselves nearly as much as if there is something new out there.

It's sad that, even with FFXIV's gradual improvement, the game still seems to sink further and further into the abyss.

And now I wonder whether it was in SE's best interest to focus almost obsessively on revamping the battle system, to the exclusion of everything else, especially when it is clear that retaining a sense of long-forgotten "newness" is more fundamental to a player's enjoyment than whether or not he/she can AFK while in combat (autoattack).