I will have to agree - standing still to cast is a bunch of nonsense. There is no need to do so. I think the ability to cast spells while moving reminds me of battle mages. =) I parrot others - it is/was a terrible aspect for mages in FFXI (having played a white mage and blackmage for a bit), was the same deal in EQ1 and any other mmorpg that believe standing still to cast a spell is the ultimate thing for a mage to do.

In Ifrit fights, and obviously not sure how this will work out in the Moogle fight, the fact that the mages can move as they begin to cast can determine a life or death situation. It is in their hands. Doing this takes that choice from them. Of course, a mage can set me straight on that but that is what I have observed.