More Horizontal Progression please

[karateorangutang]

YOU "can" make an MMO like it. Its POSSIBLE.

Sure, but expecting it to be achieved in a MMO that is already coded is foolhardy. Alot of these things you guys are discussing would completely change the feel and focus of this game.

GTA/Dark Souls both have a lot of Elements SWG had.

I guess I'm missing your point here. SWG is old and failing, so no company in their right mind is gonna use this as a template for success. 3000-4000 players would be a pittance for even a small game company. Additionally, making any sort of twitch gameplay in a MMO does two things:
1. You need the server speed to deal with the pings. With over a million subscribers in XIV that would require a vast network.
2. You are limiting the type of gamer that will buy your product. There are a ton of players that love MMO style combat for its simplicity. Maybe they prefer it or they have a disability that hinders their ability to react quickly to a stimulus. MMO's give that type of gamer a clear and achievable goal.

FFXIV is a extremely casual game. It's meant to be that way. Why is it that everyone wants to change that so badly?

Developers are just not willing to take the risk to make a Sandbox game like that.

No, because you have to be able to assure yourself a payday at the end of it. Why do you think we are seeing things like reboots of movies and all the superhero movies. They are cash cows that are guaranteed money. It's not about creativity or the human spirit flying around in a colorful rainbow. The gaming industry has to make money to stay active.