After reading the whole thin im split, simply because the game doesnt have a direction right now(that im aware of).

I understand OP enjoys the game .Many people do. But not enough.Changes have to happen or SE will keep loosing money forever.The problem now is not whatever those changes are gonna be radical or barely tweaking.The problem is into WHAT direction are those changes heading to.

Is it gonna be towards a vanilla FFXI or a WOW standards ? to put two different kinds of mmos as an example.I think more like the second option,based on the changes/patches direction.As much as people as myself would love to see a FFXI-2, this does not sell.In the end what matters is what makes money or not.

Devs basing important decisions in what the masses discuss in forums , could be a solution to "populate " FFXIV.That will definetly push away people who expected ffxi, or those who are "content" with how the game is now.

Personally?I enjoyed the game even with its flaws.But is to short.Once your done with it all you can do is rinse and repeat, then those flaws become super irritating , because theres nothing new to compensate.IMO the game will end up in something similar to WoW with a FF lore(somewhat), becouse that is what people will ask for .I enjoyed wow for a short spawn of time.Vanilla FFXI had everything wow didnt had in my case , so i stayed in FFXI for years.I came to FFXIV expecting a FFXI, but thats something that is not going to happen , no matter how much we pray for it.

At this point and in the current state of FFXIV i would be ok with whatever they decide to do but two thins,
game go F2P forever(=cash shop)
i find another mmo i like, with a long life spawn(play time).

It is really that simple , right now there just isnt a lot of good MMOs out there.For how long? not to long.

Kinda went a bit off topic there.