Hope looks bleak and my $40 might never return...

[Bourne_Endeavor]

Ya I edited my post after looking into it a bit more. That is really, really, really stupid. Wonder if that was a Square choice or a Valve choice. I'm assuming Valve so they continue to get a slice of the pie. (lol don't read into that, just speculation.) It is really lame that steam is considered a separate device via mogstation, since it is still PC, just a different store.
I figured the files were the same, however steam likes to drop things in that steamapp folder, which was my initial thinking. (Note to self: don't use steam for MMOs in the future. lol)

Anyway thanks for showing me that sir. ^^ -b

Edit: So wait, just out of curiosity, are you allowed to add a non-steam version of the game to the account? (Like you can with ps4/Windows) if not, that is extra lame.

It's a Valve issue. Unfortunately, Steam is still DRM, no matter how well developed it may be. They want to assure people continue to buy products through them, hence the restriction. It's similar to Microsoft fighting with Square Enix over whether Xbox Live should be a requirement to play FFXIV.

But the point is, if they just give you a new code, you can turn around and sell the code you bought and can't use and essentially get the game for free.

Few companies actually care because most people aren't going to do that. Someone who went out and bought your game obviously wants to play it. SE giving the OP a free code is good PR on their part is far more likely to keep her (or other customers) in the long term than strongarming over $40. That's literally nothing to them. The reason GMs can be hesitant is they have to go through their management department to get approval. Some may be lazy or concerned overhead won't agree with them offering a refund on the spot.