When I originally heard about it, I was interested in playing it because I wanted an updated XI as I enjoyed it so much.
What I got was something that tried to use familiar characters from XI along with some experimental concepts that sort of fell flat on arrival. The game had no true goals, no sense of direction, no challenge, underdeveloped regions, and only vague ideas surrounding the systems already in place that the community was apparently supposed to develop.

But there was something that kept me interested, and that was the setting. Ezora is a world ripe with history and politics and that is excellent groundwork for some really compelling plot lines and quests.

However, all that aside, the game needs to revert to basic MMO principles before it can make any real innovative changes and additions and I believe that's what 1.18-1.20 are meant to do, set up a strong foundation the game can grow on. Using the setting and history as a vantage point, I'm confident they can make something very unique and rewarding for those invested in the game.