I agree to an extent - in that I want an npc fighter that is not my chocobo. In 1.0 the player gained a npc fighter at level 20ish called a 'Path Companion', who sadly could only be used in certain storyline battles (the whole point was to allow a player who was a Disciple of the Hand or Land to do the storyline without changing classes to a Disciple of War or Magic). Sadly they were scrapped in the changeover to ARR and Yoshi hasn't really said anything about whether they will return or not. I hope they do though - I miss my miqo'te GLA and her sultry, acidic comments.

Retainers are just meant to be item storage and for running a bazaar at the Market Ward - they're not fighters (which surprised me when SE actually turned them into that). But anything's possible I guess.