I want an official response.

[Roris]

Wow, you really don't get what I meant with my comment, do you?

Neither do you because you're implying it's all about investors and since SE apparently doesn't depend on them for this specific game only because Yoshida said so, apparently they're safe from ever going F2P with ARR despite the clear signs being there. Even though you know, investors do have a say on the company as a whole and can override decisions with enough votes or at least push them towards a decision.

http://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/ir/

There is a list of 10(includes WoW). http://www.geek.com/wp-content/uploa..._mmo_table.jpg

Now these are listed as a subscription based MMO even though they have ways to play for free with certain limitations.

Thanks for that. From that list we can see, aside that ARR isn't even listed there, that excluding WoW and EVE which are the top MMO in their respective themepark and sandbox markets, and also excluding Blade and Soul which still doesn't have a presence in the western market and I think might be either P2P or B2P, the rest are F2P. Lineage, TERA, SWTOR, LOTR, Aion, Lineage 2, and Rift all started out as P2P and eventually transitioned into F2P for various reasons. TERA and LOTR implemented a cash shop while still maintaining a sub and relatively shortly after went F2P.

So really expecting ARR to remain as P2P forever, especially when the F2P transition signs are clear as day, is just too hopeful or naive.