So...is it worth it?

[Justsomeguy]

When people level in the future, they will be hitting Heavensward wearing quest greens (and the blue job set, probably). Those items are ilvl 50ish at best. Poetics is 120, 130 if upgraded.

If Poetics is going to be the minimum required in Heavensward, SE is facing a LOT of rage from people stuck slowly grinding old content for weeks just to ENTER the expansion without dying because a critter sneezed in the other end of the zone.

Well, I should ask.

Is the current endgame going to be necessary in any way whatsoever? Or will I be fine just getting my main quests done and doing the more casual stuff, like poetics.

[Anapingofness]

Well, I should ask.

Is the current endgame going to be necessary in any way whatsoever? Or will I be fine just getting my main quests done and doing the more casual stuff, like poetics.

You mean stuff like clearing Coil in order to progress into HW or the Alexander raid?
The answer is, no, you do not need to do those things. Yoshida mentioned it in one of his interviews.

As far as I know so as long as you are caught up with the main storyline, you should have no problems in enjoying HW in all of its entirety.