why i quit before reaching endgame (feedback from a new player)

[Barraind]

It requires a lot of work to:
-unflag everything (sidequests unlock as you progress through MSQ so all these will have to be updated) and add new flags based on level this will also include retainers/gc joining and thus mount unlock
-add new side quests including all translations to any content that was mandatory for MSQ we are talking 15 new dungeon(this is just the leveling ones which means context to the Aery/Vault/Doma Castle are really lost), 3 ARR primals (Mog/Levi/Ramuh), 2 HW primals (Bis/Rav), 2 SB primals (Laksmi/Susano),
-outright change encounters/dungeons/questlines why because Shiva/Nidhogg/Thordan/Shinyru/Omega/Tsukiyomi/Eureka have heavy story significance and well you either get locked out of these so thats 17 fights you cannot do without dong a massive sidequest with all existing cutscenes, fedexing that is still there which also means your locked out from all ponies/birds/dogs and their respective completion questlines their weapons etc etc (and if you think most people would go through MSQ to repeat old content they have done just to do these fights well just XD) or you strip any speech and VA in the fights or you risk spoilering story
-Flying/Diving/inn rooms/levequests/guildhests unlock changed
-Zone access changed you cannot enter the HW and SB zones without MSQ progression after all
-Beast tribes changed specifically HW/SB as they require multiple sidequestlines but also use MSQ with references especially Ananta can't exactly redecorate a bridge if Garleans still holding it XD

Why would you need to do most of that?

You can even leave the MSQ in as an over-arcing storyline, just give everyone the flags for everything currently msq-locked on character creation. It is likely less work than the flags granted through story skips.

For dungeons, raids, beast tribes and other combat encounters, you still have to have the level to enter. Beast tribes still require picking up a breadcrumb quest at the GC's as well. For EX modes, you'll still have to do the Hard version, and for hard, the normal version.

Quests are still locked to level (pre-Shadowbringers), so you still have your own set of progression through areas. You would also be able to do sidequests in level-relevant areas if you can go right to Ishgard proper at 50 instead of likely having 10+ levels of the MSQ and the 100 terrible quests of 'oh god make it stop'.

Theres no good reason not to have Chocobos, GC's, class unlocking, squadrons and retainers available at level 1.

You'd still have to do side-quests and getting taxi'd / running around to unlock flying, which means having adequate levels, and theres no reason not to have diving as soon as you have a water zone.

This thread was started by someone going through the story for the first time. Once is enough for the issues to appear

I've been yelled at by 2/3'ds of the people I introduce to this MMO in particular, and no other MMO we have played since vanilla EQ, for not telling them about the existence of a story skip.

Thats good evidence for me that maaaaybe theres a problem with it.