Quote Originally Posted by linay View Post
The way it currently works is better gear helps with current content and can help with next content as well. You don't need savage gear if you're not doing savage content, but getting augmented tomestone gear (which is almost equivalent to savage gear) still helps with regular content even if you don't need the gear to clear the content.
But that's the thing. There's no reason to DO the current content, once you have the gear from it.

That's literally the whole point of OP's post. He does current content up to his weekly lockout cap (Which, even though he doesn't do Savage, would still include Savage raiders too, as weekly caps on loot from Raids). Then... There's no reason to play current content on his main job.

Once you hit the point where you've finished getting your highest item level gear for the level you play at, then there's literally no point at all in playing your main job. You CAN go run the content you've been running over and over to get the gear and be stronger than you were previously, but there's no point to that (Unless you have spare time in before the next content drop to try and get some gear for an alt job, but even then, you'll still be playing your main job in a limited capacity for weekly lockouts)

Hence one of the underlying issues with the OP is not necessarily "Persistent progression" but rather lack of actual reason to play on a main job. With persistent progression being simply an answer to that issue, by providing content with longevity that can be done by your main job irregardless of how geared you are (Whether you're a Savage raider or not)

There is of course, the possibility of simply playing your main job in lower level content, such as farming for Shared FATEs, running Eureka, leveling up Trusts, but even these have limited longevity (If not also additional benefits when done on alt jobs i.e. Experience)

Having content that has persistent longevity, that means you can always log in and play your main job in something relevant. Would be a nice addition to FFXIV, given lack of longevity has plagued much of its content. Though, the issue is content with persistent longevity is really hard to design, as it's very difficult to make a reason for doing content that won't eventually disappear (AND doesn't interfere with other content and systems, since content that you could grind to keep getting +1 item level for gear would theoretically last forever, but would not only destroy the gear treadmill, but also create massive balance problems)

Maybe like a "Prestige system"? That allows you to constantly gain "Prestige levels" for the purpose of... Having a larger level?