This is awesome... Why couldn't we have this?

[Preypacer]

Thanks for the explanation, it does share similarities with WoW in some ways though. TP bar is similar to Paladin's resource (whatever it was called) and Rogue's energy, Warrior's rage, and others too I believe. You used normal abilities which were rather weak to build up a resource in which you spent on stronger abilities. Never liked that myself too much, but it was quite common in MMOs for whatever reason. AoE toggle also existed on some classes, namely Rogue (as I mained one).

XIV's means of gaining TP through regular attacks to use more powerful skills would be closer to FFXI's combat system, which worked similarly. In XI, TP is gained through standard attacks, or being hit (or through some skills or items), and then used for more powerful skills. Of course, the idea of "fill meter, use powerful skill" is something that's been used throughout the FF series in one form or another for a long time now. So, they didn't even have to leave their own series to find the inspiration for that system in XIV 1.x.

The skill sharing is interesting though, I want and don't want that in FFXIV at the same time. It might force me to level up every other class which I'd hate, but it would bring some much needed variety at the same time. >_<

That system is still present in ARR.

You can use cross-class abilities now. Classes have access to more of them, to allow for the flexibility the Class system is designed around. Jobs are more restricted, and have access to fewer cross-class abilities, but gain a number of unique Job-specific abilities.