FFXIV is in a Prime Position to Make Some Drastic Changes

[BlatantPyre]

My thoughts.
1. The Relic Grind.

In regards to the Relic grind, it will always be in this situation because of end game raiding. Unless Relics required Savage Anything, one cannot expect to get the most powerful weapon (for the time) to come outside of raiding. Long grind or no.

While I understand many of your counter-points to his (though I believe you both have good thoughts), I think you missed what he said about the Relic Grind. His problem is not that it's a grind, or that Relics aren't the most broken thing since Red Mage/Ninja in FFXI, but that the reward does not fit the cost. In reality, he's asking for fun-factor that actually affects the game.