It's almost impossible to level a new character now. What gives, SE?

[Evenstar]

Core games are longer, yes, but they're just as accessible as casual fare like Bejeweled. The fact that I can easily save and pick up where I last left off in almost any core game released in the last 15 years tells me everything I need to know about the needs and desires of core gamers. Time investment is not a factor, and is certainly not the driving force that makes me complete a game; that's actually kind of retarded, actually.

So, what exactly is the difference between the games you just described and FFXIV?

You can logoff whenever you want. You can login whenever you want. You can put in as much time and effort as you want.

... just like every other game?