I've been doing some of the old Relic quest for kicks as I started with 3.0 and thus never got the chance to properly experience that. I probably won't bother finishing and just jump straight into the Anima weapon. Grind? Speak for yourself. As long as its well-done, I love a good grind. (Grinding FATEs for Atma is a good example of a 'well-done' grind to me.)

No, what *really* gets me is that the new side story requires you complete the Hildibrand questline. Now, granted, I'd entertained this idea before and even started the first Hildibrand quest, but spoilers have long led me to suspect Hildibrand wasn't up my alley. I haven't even completed the required FATE yet. I eventually gave up under the reasoning that I likely wouldn't enjoy the story. The academy sidestory interested me because it was specified to be a 'serious' story.

But now it looks like I have to get through Hildibrand anyway. FML. I suspect this will be painful, but who knows? Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised.