From all thread that asking content (hardcore vs casual) : sum up objectiveto SE

[AdvancedWind]

Intensive time sinks should always be around in an MMORPG. It keeps people subscribed and it keeps them busy.

Sure, but there are timesinks and timesinks. Trying to get a 7 materia forbidden meld is a major timesink that, imo, is also good as most of the effort related to it comes from activites as varied as partying up on strongholds, leveling crafts and gatherers, hoarding gil, etc. It comes naturally as you play the game.

Now, forcing players to do the same boring task (or a small group of tasks) over and over and over for a long time is the kind of crap that, while common in MMOs, are nothing more than a major pain the ass and whoever introduced those to the genre deserves to be killed. Twice.