Disclaimer:
Most of these are my personal opinion. Just as a returning player, stating his observations.

Ok...so I've recently come back to FFXIV since some of my RL acquaintances have decided to play the game.

The game is still a hell of a lot of fun thankfully, and I'm overwhelmed with things to do. But...there are some systems that have become a letdown/disappointment, or that feel unnecessary.

1. Materia Melding
So I understand why the meld system is in its current state. SE wants to keep Crafters in the loop & make them a big part of the game, as some players choose to only craft.
However I feel like the meld system needs tweeking.
It's complicated to some extent and it really doesn't need to be.

To be blunt, Materia in this game is just Gems/Runes/Crystals/Glyphs.
You have an empty slot and you insert the item.
But we have to have a material just to slot them...then the player need to have a high enough craft or find another player to do the meld.

Current System-
Step 1:
So you have to harvest or buy the meld material. (Due to most server market prices...you're forced to harvest them yourself unless you are godly rich.)
Step 2:
Hunt down a Crafter to do the Meld (This takes longer than it sounds).
Step 3: Tip the Crafter. (Most Crafters charge WAY too much for this)

What it should be-
Step 1:
Insert Materia into empty slot.

Long story short: The current system forces folks to level crafts they don't want to level, because A LOT of people overcharge for a meld or don't have time for new/low level players.
Too many crafters view anything but high lvl melds as a waste of their time & a bane on their existence.
I understand that the meld is taking time out of their day & etc. But I should not have to pay 3000 per materia (Over the course of 12 melds each meld was around this price. Yes, no one else would spare the time. I only got maybe 5 of the 12 melds done.), my mats & everything.

That said I'm all for the Raid/Relic/God gear needing a crafter to perform a meld as even in Lore those are unique one of a kind items & it adds to their epic scale.

However, Materia for normal gear & dungeon gear should just be a simple put in slot & call it a day.
I just find it hard to believe our Characters can slay Dragons, Primals, and solve puzzles while getting beaten to a pulp. Yet we can't stick a orb into a slot?

2. Glamours
So I was SUPER excited to return and finally be able to get that custom look I found for my character. But its for lvl 50 only?!

So basically we have to beat the Main Storyline to unlock the ability to look unique...after we've played our part, and seen our cutscenes, and etc.
To be blunt, we can customize after the unique look would have done us any good.
But like the Dye system, why not let us access that earlier?

3. Crystal Shards
Can these seriously get an increase in how many harvest?
Crafting eats these up in moments, and harvesting them is absolutely no fun, it's like having your tooth pulled as you sit on a hot nail while a cat scratches a chalk board in the background.
While it's nice to be able to sell them and make 100k. I feel like the very fact they sell for an absurd amount proves my point.

Perhaps the Wards Gathering Classes get can become buffs and increase the yield to 3 or 5?
I'd take a npc that sells them outright about now.
I've yet to meet a single player who does not resent shard farming.

4. Dungeon Roulette
I love this feature. My only question...the roulette says: "Low Level Dungeon Roulette" but the lvl range of it is 10-47......
Shouldn't the lvl 30-45 dungeons be considered "Mid-Level Dungeon Roulette"?
With lvl 47+ being "High-Level Dungeon Roulette"?
May as well take out the "low-level" part of it otherwise.

5. Guildhest
I love these. Nice, short, sweet, and intuitive.
These should be repeatable every week like Challenges.

6. Retainer Companion
I already know the answer folks will give to this but I'll say it anyways...
Any chance we can one day free our Retainers of their shackles & have them accompany us into the field like our Chocobo?
I love the bird to death. But why not have more options?

That's all I have. Thanks for reading this far!