In game Economy issues?

[AlesStone]

yadda--, SE doesn't give you much of a reason to hoard gil. iLvl 90 items are farmable/droppable, HQ food is dirt cheap these days -- yadda yadda I dont have enough room to make a reply

part of me thinks that this is just some elaborate conspiracy SE has and that maybe SE does understand t3h 3c0NoM1c5 more than they let on. With no market in which to spend gil, there is no market for the gil sellers and RMTs. SE brilliance? you decide!

While I completely understand what you are getting at, there are still things that are too expensive to afford in these kind of ideals. I.E. materia tier 4 if you want to materia out your gear, and housing. While some may be thinking "you don't have to get a house" that is true, however I also don't have to upgrade my gear, or do any lvl 50 content, or level up. It isn't fair to make some things dirt cheap (and gil hard to make) but yet not make other things so cheap.

So no, I don't think it is brilliance.

[Daenerys_Sedai]

While some may be thinking "you don't have to get a house" that is true, however I also don't have to upgrade my gear, or do any lvl 50 content, or level up.

While both statements are true, they're not exactly the same thing. The lack of a house is going to affect maybe 1-3% of the game's content? The not upgrading your gear or doing any lvl 50 content or above is going to affect 90% of the game's content. So, yes, nobody is forcing you to do both, but if you choose not to do the latter, then you might as well say "well you don't have to pay for the game."

Again, upgrading your gear post 50 can be done without ever spending gil. Crafted gear is only iLvl 70 and even with pentamelds, it's not going to compare to ilvl 90 stuff (though some may debate this point). But in the event that there is some pentameld out there (gryphonskin maybe? rose gold?) the is somewhat on par with an iLvl 90, nobody will scoff at you having say allagan gloves instead of a pentamelded glove.

It isn't fair to make some things dirt cheap (and gil hard to make) but yet not make other things so cheap

Jests aside, this is really the players' fault. SE could think of other ways to implement an Auction House-like their AH in FFXI where the listed prices are hidden and you can also see price history. Supply and Demand. Free market, "yadda yadda"