The point is: It might be surprising, but some of us actually DO play FFXIV precisely because it isn't FFXI. If we wanted to play FFXI, we'd go play FFXI. Trying to satisfy everyone is akin to the fable about the old man, his son, and the donkey and I'd rather they just pleased themselves trying to make a game that they could be proud of.

I highly doubt you'd draw many people back to the game with "Come back and try FF14! We've made it more tedious, impenetrable and grindy!". People that like that usually end up playing Darkfall.