I think the team worked really hard on a number of aspects so sometimes when I compare I feel like 2.0 looks better, and other times 1.0. But 2.0 runs way better on WAY more machines lol.
I think some changes were a bit personal to Yoshida really wanting a lot of characters on screen at the same time (which at least for my computer seems to work quite well, desire turned reality - no lag in pvp for myself at least), but probably why some armors are pixeled in their fine details. Besides PvP I actually turn down character count (am on FULL server), because I like to have a reasonable spread.. so to me the armor could take more of my GPU's memory I'd be okay lol.
1.0 had some really high poly models, like iirc flower pots that gave characters a run for their money lol. But, that also applied to butts. Like 1.0 booty was quite a bit 3d, and 2.0s is quite a bit flat in comparison (or in general too I guess). So there was an issue with consistency and balance, I think a lot of people are okay to give up the flower pots and less so for the rear end.
Also iirc 1.0 used A LOT of shaders, so sometimes 1.0 material felt better represented and intricate. 2.0 is far more efficient and available to the consumer to play, but maybe lost a little finesse.
Would love to see touch ups when possible, I know that's likely negative priority but would be cool. I could run 1.0 max, and been running 2.0 max as well. Would like to see some textures improved too, more reasonable request if they've been downgrading for release- bit less reasonable if what we have is what they got. Like my character has seams on his non-existent nipples, hair but mostly beards are also notoriously low detail.
Figure it can be someone's really slow side project that they work on when Yoshida isn't cracking the whip on a new mount or what have you :P (so, not that often). Iirc they talked about updating the graphics occasionally, like with Dx11 they did. Occasionally, also most likely aka very seldom.
Weird feeling where its like something I really want, but I don't want it so bad that it pushes something more important like a well designed skill set or something lol. I know that sort of logic is a bit silly since I think it's unwise for players to try and be the producer of the game, we don't know their budget or current task schedule.. but still lol
Many of the important graphic changes I had wanted in 1.0 to 2.0 were actually well taken care of, I can't really recall a thing I didn't really see changed I thought should have been. Of course I greatly miss the animations of somethings but maybe it added way too much cost/standard to the pipeline (understand why it was left behind, even if I thought some were pretty smexy). So at this point its just fun to push them to keep FFXIV as the shiniest mmo in the land.
"Excuse me sir, can you add more lights to the painting, and move it a little bit to the left, and then the right, and left, and.. add twelve more pixels to the frame!" Thanks~