Forcing NA Duty Finder to be better, we need a grading system.

[RiceisNice]

Disagree with what? You have a problem in your posting. It's often a bunch of off-point verbal diarrhea. I said the content wasn't a problem, it's the systems surrounding the content that fail it. You just said you disagree but only address the failure of the systems.

The design of the content goes in hand with the system (or lack of). If the content allows below-minimal play to be passable, it falls onto the system and community to address it.

So turning back to FFXIV, what is the goal? For casual players, the extent of their motivation might be to play virtual barbie with cat girls and cat boys. They see a fully geared A8S cleared player and they don't care. That world has nothing to do with them unless there is a cute glamour they want. With that context, how can you reasonably expect them to be motivated to be a better player? Going back to my previous point, the problem is not the content. FFXIV has some of the most challenging raid content in the industry right now. If players wanted to aspire to a PvE standard, it's there.

The content I'm referring to is anything that isn't a raid or EX trial (normal mode trials, roulettes and 24 mans), or even side content like aquapolis, diadem or the soon to be palace. I'm really not sure how to word it anymore to get my point across because I feel like I'm repeating myself. The content is designed to allow players to essentially to psuedo-afk and let the burden fall onto the 3, 7 or 23 members of the party. In your example of someone playing only for the glamour, even something like going into a dungeon would require party play to acquire something they want. However as of now, they can do that without any investment into playing the game properly if the party is willing to put up with it. You mentioned that a player doens't have to worry about being better or playing in a toxic environment because it won't get in the way of their goal (acquiring glamour or tomestones) because both the content (they can be carried) and the system (limited kicking/policing) allow for it.

I've lost my train of thought now after being away for the entire day, I'm just gonna end up repeating myself again so I'll bail out.