I usually don't reply on the forums because most of the topics seem to attract flame wars, but this seems like a worthwhile topic where I should share my experiences with statics and raid groups.

I spent a lot of time raiding with the same core of people in WoW. The other members of our raid would change, but the same 10-15 people played with me for most of the original game and three expansions. We weren't hardcore, but we cleared all of the normal raid content by raiding 2-3 evenings a week. It felt highly rewarding to raid with them because it didn't just feel like business, it felt like I was sharing something with friends.

I originally stumbled on them because I ran a dungeon with a few of their members. This doesn't exactly happen in FF14 because all content up to level 50 is commonly queued for in the duty finder. It isn't until 50 where party finder starts to play a constant role, and it is most commonly used for the latest raid content. While it's possible to meet people that way, it isn't the best environment for establishing friendships and bonds.

I'm not saying it isn't possible to get a good static in recent games like FF14, but the problem is more with me. I'm picky, and my circumstances have changed. I have an FC that has many static groups available, and my server has many opportunities. But many of the statics focus on maximum performance and clearing the content over getting to know people and playing with the same group for an extended period of time. There is nothing wrong with this if that is what the entire group is looking for, but I don't want to join a static purely for progression purposes. If there is nothing else holding the group together, the static could fragment for a variety of justified or stupid reasons. Being in a static or a raid group takes a large (or at least consistent) time investment, and I have commitments in my life now. If I am going to plan my evenings around a game again, I want to be with a group that I will be investing in for an extended period of time.

Since I have not found that group, I have made my own somewhat-solo endgame. FF14 is built well for that. I queue into roulettes to gather tomes, gil, and help strangers. I level my chocobo (Rank 8 or so as of this post), and I help people that want anything from Sastasha to Titan HM in my FC and LSes sometimes. But the other content? Random parties are impatient and hate getting people who are not experts on the fights, so I stay out of their way. I would consider tackling this content with a party, but it has to be the right kind of group as I outlined above. I don't want to cast my lot with a bunch of jerks, or a static likely to dissolve for petty reasons. So for the time being, I focus on solo progression and help new players with easier content. That way, I can play on my own terms on my own schedule.

TLDR: I do solo/low level content to help others and play on my own schedule because I have not found a static that works for my schedule and needs.