Quote Originally Posted by KylePearlsand View Post
then someone finds that perfect build
It depends on how things are designed, as I suggested. Not an MMO, but take Warframe. Different frames have qualitatively different effects, and some are more effective at some "roles" than others. However, there are various ways to build a frame from an efficacy standpoint, and there are gear builds that make you play differently - separate entirely from how you build out your frame.

FF XIV starts with an illusion of flexibility (cross-class skills, etc.), and then you lose it all. Jobs pare down cross-class skills to nothing but required skills. Gear becomes ultra-linear (general caster gear vs. Fending/Slaying). Gear/level just directly mods stats upwards. It's not a system made for variety, but systems with variety ARE possible.

The system demands the "perfect build" now, because the only thing the game is designed for is a character fitting a fixed mold they plan the mechanics around.