the player base was expecting ffxi-2. they got something totally different and they bailed. the game failed. it is that simple.

don't fool yourself with the "it just needs content / it's unfinished" jargon. the funamentals of the game are flawed. far vast majority of the players quit playing before they even got to see the rest of the launch content as it is. more of the same won't save the game. it needs a complete overhaul, aka; ffxi-2.