What Happened to Potion Consistency?

[Elamys]

A lot of crafters already prioritize running as alchemy specialist, though that's for a variety of reasons, mostly Reisuis, but also the infusions which raiders do need. As an ALC spec though, it does feel like most of the items I can make, especially at low levels, are pointless. You keep it around for making materials other jobs need, it seems.

Ethers and potions don't even feel very useful in solo content past certain levels, but I do keep them around anyways. It's better than nothing when I'm out doing FATEs and my stupid chocobo forgot her training.

[RitsukoSonoda]

Don't rely on potions. Rely on your healer instead.

Moving on from that if potions were actually worth something crafters will prioritize running as an Alchemist.

Or Phoenix Downs not working in combat...even though you can only hold one. Which gets worse when RDM can just quick raise 2 party members immediately.

Plus some of the stuff like Gold Needles can't even cure what they are supposed to cure. High end duties that give petrification can't be cured with it.

I don't really understand?

I feel like part of this was caused by item usage in FFXI. In FFXI consumable item usage overall was considerably higher and if you wanted a mostly consistent crafting income you chose cooking or alchemy as food and a number of crafted alchemy consumables were always in demand and being used. You were pretty much guaranteed to sell silent oil, prism powder, sushi, kabobs, pies, and cookies as long as you didn't stupidly overprice them.

[Orbus]

Ethers and potions don't even feel very useful in solo content past certain levels, but I do keep them around anyways. It's better than nothing when I'm out doing FATEs and my stupid chocobo forgot her training.

As a BLM main I use super ethers fairly frequently for that lovely quad flare usage (blm aoe spells really shine in eureka) but that's about the extent of their usage.
At least ethers have that though, and square funny enough doesn't seem to have a problem with it.
Heck as a BLM I'd be better off spamming drain if I'm desperate enough to even consider using an hp item, pitiful damage for sure, but a few casts will restore more than a hq super potion and it's better than being dead and dealing no damage.