The biggest question on the PL front is; will experience points be the sole focus of leveling our character? Character level seems like it's taking the back seat to the materia system.

To me, it has the potential for an excellent blend of systems. Just like the plans for recipe changes; easy to start, difficult to master. This way everyone can be at cap and experience content, but only the most dedicated will grind enough to have multiple tier IV materia on their gear, thus making them significantly better than cap.

Just as the original concept of the game was to "level as much as you want," this seems to continue that vision while adding so many more layers to the game.

As far as NMs and things of that nature go, I've mentioned before and I'll say it again that I hope they do away with open world NMs as endgame content. Making them something to occupy small parties and or solo players is fine. But if XI proved anything, it's that HNMs bring out the worst in people. And on top of that, there was no challenge whatsoever. Initially there was, but just like Darkhold, after a few weeks it just became a matter of having enough people and having those people just pay attention.

From the bots to the drama to the low drop rates to the wasted idle hours to the griefing it all can just be done away with by giving people equal chances to fight the battles. And I'm not say "Herp easy mode derp." The drop rates could be .00001% for all I care. As long as I can take a few tries now and again at it with a few friends instead of staring blankly at my screen for three hours, I'd be happy.