These otter pictures are giving me life, thank you. :3

I think it'd be a good idea to prune the msq (particularly the ARR patch content - and ARR in general should be their focus as HW and SB were not nearly as painful) to streamline the experience for new players, as well as maybe providing a mog station credit as a bonus for purchasing the game during a certain period before/after new expansion drop so newbies can pick up a skip pot if they want (or spend it on fantasias, whatever - it's a good way to advertise the mog station to new players either way). And they need to do something about Castrum Meridianum and Praetorium (making them solo duties with an 8 man trial at the end of each one would probably make the most sense, but either way those two are still a pain point and probably should be fixed).

IMO the story is good and I don't think it needs the drastic changes some are suggesting, but the questing experience could certainly use some streamlining.