Crossover events and breaking immersion

[Iscah]

Oh but a giant whale soaring through the air as a mount is perfectly fine?

It is, actually.

It's not about plausibility, it's about whether this item feels like it belongs in a fantasy story. A flying whale seems more appropriate than a modern-looking car.

Even the more fantastic-looking Garlean devices (two-legged mecha, giant airships) seem more suited to the setting - although their buildings feel out of place to me, as does a lot of the later Allagan stuff like Azys Lla. (I know "ancient advanced civilisation" is a thing, but that doesn't mean I have to like their taste in architecture.)

[Theodric]

FFXIV has never been a strictly 'fantasy' setting, though.

It seems to be more a matter of personal preferences getting in the way of enjoyment of what the setting actually is.