SE - Default 3rd Retainer before Fees

[Felis]

How about no.

Third retainer seems fair, since inventory expansion upgrades have been put behind a cash shop's pay wall.

The free inventory upgrade have already happened.
FF XIV 1.0 started with 180 item slots (character (80) + character bazaar (10) + 1 retainer (80) + 1 retainer bazaar (10))
ARR started with 815 item slots (character (100) + armory chest (325) + 2 retainer (350) + 2 retainer bazaar (40))

If people complain about not enough space with 815 slots, then a 3rd retainer would be also not enough and they would start to complain that the 4th and 5th cost a fee.

^this.

Also, I wouldn't mind so much if the Armoire could actually hold the Seasonal Gear in a timely manner (Dream/Kabuto's/Valentione's... looking at you).

Dream suits and Usagi kabuto are tradeable, still obtainable after the events (in the MB) and therefore would never go into the armoire.