When they mentioned specialization, did they mention anything at all about it being a system that limited what people could do on a single character, or are people just inferring that from the word "specialization?"

Also, we already have a "relic"-like progression for crafters and gatherers: AF -> AF Supra -> AF Lucis. Not sure if it will continue, with the Lucis needed for the next tier item, just like the Supra was needed for the Lucis. The Lucis quest requires you to run leves (or farm GC seals), craft (or gather) a bunch of relatively difficult HQ items, and farm Beast Tribe quests/treasure maps/GC Seals (for Moonstones). That's similar to a stage of a relic quest, it's just simpler and without an actual quest to frame it. None of that is focused on combat classes, though having a combat class at some moderate level (~40) is helpful (not required). Similar to how, for a certain relic stage, crafters/gatherers/desynthers are required, even though they are not combat classes.