I've already said what I needed to say in the past few pages (thanks for the many likes) but I do want to add/ask one thing.

Everyone makes such a big deal about the death penalty and how detrimental it was to FFXI but the number of times I died were relatively miniscule and were mostly due to player error that I corrected the next time I did whatever it was I was doing. I was also prepared for any journey with adequate silent/invis potions.

By the replies it seems like people were dying constantly and losing experience like crazy. I really think the problem was/is exaggerated by some. Or people just weren't careful and didn't make adequate preparation for whatever it was they were doing.

I do think the game needs to be more difficult (see my post a few pages back) I wouldn't complain either way if the death penalty was instated or left alone.

But I think we can all agree, the best part about the death penalty is that it kept people from bailing from a party immediately when they dinged as most wanted that buffer. This meant that someone else close to leveling wouldn't get shafted as is quite common in current mmo's where people get what they want/ding then bail on their team.