Physical Copy FFXIV Online + Digital SB = Still Need Physical Disk?

[Voldemort]

I had purchased Stormblood via the PS Store on the PS4 digitally in hopes that I wouldn't have to utilize a disk to play the game.
I had originally purchased FFXIV Online physical copy when HW came out (the ARR + HW combo disk with Ishgard on the cover).

However, it seems SB downloaded to my HDD as an add-on to the physical disk version of the game I already have, kind of like DLC, instead of being a standalone application that I can run. Hence, I must continue to insert the disk in order to play FFXIV (despite the digital SB copy).

Why is this? Is there a way to not have to continue inserting the disk to play?

[Saralene]

Sadly, the main FFXIV "client" is what matters for whether you can play digitally or physically, because yeah, the expansion packs just count as add-ons of sorts; they're actually attached to your SE account, even, not your game.

AFAIK, the only way to fix this is buying a digital copy of the (base) game, as much as that sucks. x_x

[Sarevok_Thordin]

This is a very backward and odd thing.

On the PC version you can buy a physical copy of the game but literally all that DVD serves is to stop you having to download a portion of the game, as the rest is given in patches, everyone just wants the code inside.

[Felis]

AFAIK, the only way to fix this is buying a digital copy of the (base) game, as much as that sucks. x_x

Or download the free client that is in the PSN for trial play, which is much cheaper.