I think I'll start this thread on a positive note.

There have been many improvements/adjustments/additions to the game since I played during the public beta. Enough so that I felt it finally warranted my purchase, and I an anxiously awaiting the mail lady today!

I have not kept up on the payment side of things; has SE announced changes to its terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible payment policy? The one where you could either

A) be the only MMO player in the world that pays a fee to pay be credit card for an online game, or
B) enroll in an auto-renewing account with a shady London based company, with the only way to STOP them from withdrawing your money is to send a written letter to their London office?

I'm not sure if I mentioned, but that's a TERRIBLE payment system. I bought the game to see the progress its made, but make no mistake: if that type of payment system persists after the game is no longer free to play, then I'll not be continuing my account at that point.

And it's possible SE already announced the retraction of their terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible payment policy, and I missed it. I could be up in arms over nothing.

But to me, even "fixing" the problem by waiving the credit card fee and returning to FFXI's recurring monthly fee, complete with "late" charges is not enough. Give me a subscription option. I don't owe you additional money because you don't shut off accounts until several days after a payment doesn't go through for whatever reason. I and only I decide when and what amount is withdrawn from my accounts.