Is FFXIV viable as an MMORPG without doing end-game & raiding?

[Naraku_Diabolos]

Right now I finished the 3.1 storyline. I'm working on my crafting to Lv45 (BTN and MIN are 46 while FSH is 45) as I am also leveling up DRK (it's already at 45), AST (Lv44), and MCH (it's 40) to Lv45, so I'm doing that in tandem. I want to get my crafting and gathering up, as well as my extra jobs (HW ones) even with my ones from the 2.x series so I can save money making my own gear. I have NIN at 60 and I may start out on Anima Relic. I also want to finish the 2.x Relics as well, and those are at the Animus upgrade stage (with the books; NIN already has the Relic Animus with books done). I'm also wanting to at least complete my crafting log by making one of each item just to show that I made something at least once. Same with fishing and gathering. I also want to do Coil and CT (IF my FC can help me as well as the server), then also do normal Alexander and Void Ark, and maybe start AS once everything is 60 and I get my gear current...

[therpgfanatic]

I took a very long break (about 10 months) from playing the game because I had taken on a new very demanding job that I only recently moved on from. I now have more flexible hours so I re-regged as a distraction to get my mind off work when I'm not at work.

Even without raiding, this game is pretty demanding as to even complete a single basic quest can run an hour depending on how much dialogue must be read, and realm hopping is needed. People say the game is casual friendly, but this isn't Angry Birds or anything. There is quite a heavy time investment needed. The most serious players appear to basically live in the game. This is common in RPGs, especially MMORPGs. The more time you invest into the game, the more resources you have. It's a linear progression treadmill that encourages more time investment by rewarding that time.

Raiding is part of the progression treadmill. Players don't have to do it, but the game design pushes players toward it. At some point you simply can't improve your character to the max the system allows without engaging in it. Still, players don't have to get into raiding to enjoy the game -- there are a lot of side activities outside of the linear progression treadmill of item level.