SUGGESTION 4. I would like to see something like merit points (I think it is called something else now) from ffxi put in. The idea where you can gain experience points beyond max level, but the points only go towards permanent upgrades to some stats, or cool down reductions or something. It would have to scale up a little bit for when level caps increase, but that can work similarly to the item drops from extremes. Furthermore, perhaps this experience can only be earned through certain content like 24 man raids, or deep dungeons or something. The key here, is make the bonus from doing this relatively small and a little grindy. For example, lets say you can use one "merit point" to upgrade any secondary stat by 1%, any primary stat by 0.5% or reduce a cool down for one gcd by 0.05. The first merit point is the equivalent of 10 24-man dungeon runs, the 2nd merit point is equivalent of 20 24-man dungeon runs, 3rd merit point is the equivalent of 40 24-man dungeon runs and so on up to a max 5 merit points to one upgrade. You can adjust those numbers as needed, those are just fast suggestions. Keep in mind the point is to be grindy with the stat increases. Furthermore when you consider most people heavy into end game have more then 1 job they keep geared, this would add a lot.

FINAL WORD: I only gave suggestions here. The main point is to make the "cookie cutter/formulaic" aspects of patches and expansions give permanent upgrades. So that say at the end of shadowbringers I have to decide between my 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 raid/relic gear on what I want to wear to that best suits my personality. Yes I know this adds balancing issues. Here is me retort to that. As long as you can clear all content with all the jobs, then having some imbalance is fine. Otherwise, just make balancing adjustments every patch like they are no. There will always be a meta and they can adjust these add-ons as well. An easy formula to follow is if any specific gear was being used say 40%+, nerf it. If any gear is being used less then 10% of the time, buff it. These are just suggestions, but it would highly motivate players like me to keep up with the new stuff, and newer players to go back and do the old stuff. Would also give customization which is the main thing this game lacks. For at least players like me, this would easily double my playtime if not more.