How did you start playing 4 years ago but the changes you have issues with are from like 1.0?

That game system was terrible back then and the changes that were made were for the best overall.

Also you have issues with shortening the main story in the early levels, which is exactly the slump that prevents most new players from sticking with the game in general. I have had 5+ friends not continue with the game because they cannot stand the ARR-HW quest slog.

Most of us also have jobs where we earn currency, and take small breaks. From the sounds of it you got lost in a time loop of 1.0 being 4 years ago and expected an mmo to not progress at all while you were earning currency at your real life human job.