Besides the dramatic increase in the recast timer on a few of my moves, I haven't done enough to make too much judgment calls yet. I'm just surprised at how hostile people are towards solo players. What's wrong with playing solo? MMO just means lots of people are around, not that I have to play with them.

Yes, I like my LS mates. I know a few of them irl. I get along with people ingame and I do chat with people and form groups. I don't necessarily want to do that EVERY time I play. My main job is much higher than almost everyone else in my LS, so sometimes I want to go solo in an area none of them can really go yet. Sometimes they need an item and I'm getting it for them. Sometimes I want to go somewhere for a specific reason and no one I know can help me out.

They work and I help out with kids a lot. We aren't always on at the same time, and I have to be on call constantly in case the kids need something. I loved that I could do that without a problem in this game. I could play on my own and walk away anytime without messing up an entire group by ditching them. I'm not the only player I know who has to deal with kids and work and other things. We're not all anti-social; that's just how life works. Other things in life are more important and when I play I want to be able to do my own stuff without depending on other people I don't know being willing to help me.
I mean, did you guys ever try to start playing FFXI a few years into it and do some of those first missions? I saw plenty of poor new people who couldn't get anyone to help them just get past those first missions because everyone else was doing their endgame stuff. I don't mind grouping and such, but the game should definitely also be playable without grouping. Wanting to solo sometimes doesn't mean I shouldn't be allowed to play a MMO. I didn't come here to spend hours LFG again.

That said, again, I haven't done enough during this new patch to make a complete judgment on the changes. I just don't see why some people seem to think solo playing doesn't need to be a viable option. There are a lot of reasons people choose to play solo and it has nothing to do with them hating groups/people/humans/all life on earth/puppies or something.