Pre-Abyssea FFXI was amazing. Abyssea became the downfall for this game, however. It completely removed any need for large group cooperative play and thusly reduced much of the social interaction. On top of that, the focus changed from developing your job slowly, to racing to max level and getting the best gear.

The current version of 14 I feel is on the same level as FF11-postAbyssea. Large group play is non-existent. Not much social interaction. And it feels like our goal is to race to 50 and get the best gear, and if some better gear comes out, then we gotta get that new gear because our old best gear is now crap. And if we can't get it immediately.. then I hate it and /ragequit...

Some days I wish I could go back to 1.0... People were social... we had our "corner" somewhere in Ul'dah where when we weren't doing anything, we'd all get together and hang out. We did stuff together.. we didn't care how fast we leveled. Level 50 Grand Company gear was awesome! People who got darklight were amazing!

Now it's become if you aren't ilvl 9001, then yur just shit.