FFXIV 1.0 can't exist without anima, I don't know about FFXIV 2.0.
Your Right, 1.0 Can't exist without Anima because of its Huge Maps it has.. and how everything is so repetitive. ( the NM for seals is Fun, makes you not want to use anima and kill the NMs while Exploring.. if you did Anima Everytime for 3.5k seals a run.. you will run out before long.. especially with the Amount of seals you need to use for alot of the stuff.

However, in 2.0 it is said that the maps will be alot less repetitive, Not as elongated like 1.0 's maps things like that.. so if that holds to be true with 2.0.. then Anima is not needed at all.. only forms of Transportation (Trains/Chocobos/Airships/ etc).

We shall see in the coming months.