FFXI vs FFXIV Difficulty

[AceofRains]

To make this game as difficult as xi would be a horrible move.

I don't have the time to play this game that often that I could even get everything to 50 in a year, AND get everything a new patch has to offer. How is that fair when I pay as much for this game as anyone else?

I love the pacing as is. I don't have to zombify on this game like I did on XI to make progress.

As for having a full party of Black Mages or something rediculous like that...
Theres nothing wrong with it. You sacrifice your defenses for amazing damage, you may finish the fight faster, but with no defenses you have a way bigger chance of failure, your execution needs to be flawless. This is a tactic. t-a-c-t-i-c
This doesn't mean that people can't and wont have a regular party set up.

Your mage's weapon is NOT the source of magic power in this game, it is only a tool that increases your potency, theres no reason you should have to pull it out, unless you WANT to auto attack.