We have been constantly seeing the announcement regarding maintenance/eternal bonding in chat when logging on. Is it really necessary? Do the applicable players not see this already when they go to set them up anyway?

IMO it would be nice to remove the message, because I think it just conditions players to ignore it. And then when there are actual events tacked on that we need to be aware of, it all becomes just a massive wall of scrolling text. It should just be:

Welcome to [server name]!
Welcome to FINAL FANTASY XIV!
[Insert whatever is the latest event/announcement]