See, I'm an average sort of player, I'm not especially skilled and 'normal' fights can be a challenge for me. In spite of that I have been able to complete the Main Story as far as it went on release, using AF gear, just like in FFXI.

I was able to complete ALL FFXI expansions (except the last which I haven't bothered with) with only 'normal' or HQ-crafted gear.

Now however it seems I am unable to carry on playing the Main Story as Primal HMs are now part of it, as the just-published translation of the last Producer Live clearly states. There'll be no 'story' Leviathin, only HM and EX. In FFXI terms this would be Chapter 6 (ending in the fight with Shadow Lord) requiring gear from Dynmis.

So FFXIV is now a hard-core gear grind with some story elements and not the story-based MMO with phat lewt available for those that want it.

Seems in FFXIV I'll only ever be able to complete the initial release, not even the 'free content updates' that come before the first expansion.