It definitely sounds like they are moving toward a WoW or Rift cloned MMO. Which I strenouusly object to.

If they implement grouping and partying like Rift (maybe Wow, never played it) where people pick a role they want to play and queue up for dungeons, then that will be the death of FFXIV.

If they change the loot system to be like WoW where its need or greed based on your current class, that will kill this game too.