In the end I do understand outside the business aspect the main reason behind making the MSQ optional baffles many since it is a FF game, I know it may seem odd of someone playing a final fantasy game for raiding and social experience, but those are my reasons for playing. I know SE will keep the current status quo since the books do sell, I mean half my raid group bought story and job skips before the sale on mog station.
Though I do think outside the money aspect only reason people seem against the idea is because for some odd reason they feel making the story optional will detract from the importance SE puts on the story, and I do not think that would necessarily has to be the case. I do think SE writers are skilled enough to craft a story that has the same impact but is fully optional. Overall my stance comes from the fact that I tried to play FFXIV before job and story skip were an option and could not do it, I am mainly an endgame player. I am glad they came out with story and job skips since I do enjoy endgame in FFXIV, especially the optimization aspect for endgame content. Never been much of a healer fan, but I must say I have had the most fun healing in this game then any other. Ast and Sch and truly wonderful jobs to play.
While I do not like the pay wall to skip the story I deal with it, and I even bought many for my friends to come and try FFXIV, though anecdotal it baffles people some would rather not have new players come in and find another game to play because some find the MSQ gate too much to bare.
FFXIV may be a final fantasy game, but it is also an MMO. Are you saying I should take my money else where because story is not for me? I enjoy many aspects of the game, the story just so happens to not be one. Am I playing the game wrong or something? I am not asking to take the story away from you, just for an option to skip what I view as mindless fluff to pad playtime.
I understand why it is a thing from a business standpoint, but I do not understand why from a community aspect people make it seem like making the MSQ optional detracts from their own enjoyment. Unless they are worried if SE make it optional they would not give it the same love and care as they have in the past. Which I do not think is much of an issue if the story is just a core aspect of FF I am sure they could make it work if they so desired.