Swapping from Steam to non-Steam client?

[Fytayn]

I know someone from my FC does that. Her base game was bought from Steam but she's playing the game through the client you download from the FFXIV website. Some people are saying that it's technically still Steam based though, which is why people think they can't buy the physical CE. (No idea where this info comes from but it'd be nice to know)

The thing is that the Steam client isn't different than the one you download; it's the same launcher but the difference is that you downloaded it from the Steam servers and not the SE servers. The problem is at the account level. "Steam" PC accounts are apparently different from a PC account from anywhere else and Steam/Valave have said, in as "cutesy" a way as possible, that only Steam-store-purchased codes will work. Still waiting on official SE word/confirmation. I'd be okay if they throw Valve under the bus over this.