Quote Originally Posted by LineageRazor View Post
Technically, actually, you DID have to buy multiple copies of FFXI - one for PS2, one for PC, one for XBOX (if you planned to play on all three systems). You have to get the client installed on the machines somehow! Of course, if you had some other way of getting the client installed, such as borrowing from a friend, then yeah, you didn't need to pay for more than one copy. It's true, though, that FFXIV is different in that having the client is not enough on its own, and you have to register on each type of system (which requires buying a copy of each - no more borrowing from a friend!).

You're absolutely right, though, in that FFXIV is SORELY in need of server-side uploading and downloading of macros and settings, much like FFXI had. Trying to keep two systems in sync, updating one every time you update the other, is maddening!
With FFXI, you didn't need an authorized copy of the game for that platform, you only needed your account, which only needed *one* copy of the game to get. The other platforms could be installed from used/other people's media and used with the account you had. Can't do that in FFXIV; your account has to be authorized to that platform and you'll need an authorization code from a copy of the game for that platform to do it.