How am I meant to level with a friend now?

[Warp]

By "fun" you mean "easy" with the release of Abyssea...and that was still...what..8 years after the game's release? Your point is invalid. Also, at least acknowledge my rebuttal to your statement about FFXIV being a longer grind than the GOOD FFXI..

How is his point invalid? FFXI was losing players left and right after WoW came out. Also, FFXI became casual-friendly a few years before Abyssea.