Macro Programs? Illegal?

[Ava]

Umm... Please exclude me from the "we are ALL using third party software" bit.

I play the game with a mouse and keyboard, no special drivers, no 3rd party software, no bots, hacks, scripts, windower, etc. I find it lame (personally) to even use add-ons that provide information not readily provided by the game by default.

You are using drivers. Drivers are third party to FFXIV. Default drivers are still third party software to FFXIV. The OP was referring to default keyboard drivers for the keyboard he is using. They are not "special". Nor are mine, or yours. We're all still using third party software.

Edit to respond to the rest of your post even though it's completely off-topic.

Standards change, Blizzard raised the bar for MMORPGs with World of Warcraft (like it or not, they did). People enjoy strategical challenge instead of artificial "hard for the sake of being hard" challenge, addons add an additional element to the game that enhances the overall gameplay experience. You talk about difficulty and wikis and all that jazz, but those things have existed forever. The internet simply makes them more accessible. You can choose not to embrace them, but that's basically the same as riding your bike to work rather than taking your car. You're gimping yourself for no reason. Developers just need to find new ways to challenge their players.