Allowing Gear Change in Active Mode

[Genz]

1. inventory space issues
2. characters flashing

Game programing is at fault here, not the system itself.

3. it becomes the norm and people who don't want to do it are "gimped"

Wut? A system in a game is indeed meant to be used, so yes, not using it is being gimp (or not playing at all. "I'm playing a FPS and I don't want to shoot!")

a good design choice would be to force players to think about the best gear for their style of play PRIOR to starting battle.

The good design choice is indeed to have things that have to be decided before battle, and things that can be changed during battle. Thanksfully, that's what already exist in every RPG (FFXI included. Stuff isn't the only thing determining your strategy)

PS : I don't give a damn about having gear swap in FFXIV or not

[Arcell]

Wut? A system in a game is indeed meant to be used, so yes, not using it is being gimp (or not playing at all. "I'm playing a FPS and I don't want to shoot!")

That's a flimsy comparison. In an FPS the main means of interacting with the world is shooting. In an MMO the main means of interacting with the world is not gear swapping. The game is not designed around the use of such a system, if it was it would already be in place. However even though it would be "optional", most of the community would likely not feel this way.