Ok, lets do it, WHAT is wrong with this game?

[Penthea]

The general playerbase certainly feels below average overall MMORPG player skill. This is a subjective opinion based on playing well over 10 different MMORPGs for over 10+ years.

Either you have strange luck or I do. I haven't found FFXIV's player population to be any more or less skilled on average than playerbases in other mmorpgs I played.

You can say that it's the players fault, but you'd be dismissing SE's complete and utter failure to actually help the playerbase to become better. They've nerfed content they shouldn't have, they waited entirely too long to build a hall of novice, and have yet to create a relevant end game level one.

Most bad players know the basic requirements to get through the game but they don't care if their laziness or "unique" playstyle forces other players to work harder. No amount of novice hall classes is going to change a bad player's attitude towards teamwork. The only thing that gets through to these people is "some playstyles will get you kicked from the party". They only change if their choices are reduced to get kicked or git gud.

Yes there are some players who mean well but are legitimately clueless about some aspects of the game, but I am loathe to call these people bad because they do get better with time and/or guidance. Truly bad players will take any opportunity to get carried.