FFXIV is too simplistic and bland

[tymora]

I'm not sure where the idea comes from that an experience like XI's itself requires massive amounts of playtime per week, or even necessarily large chunks at a time, to enjoy.

There was a time when in FFXI, 5k exp/hour is considered awesome. It takes months to finish level up one class/job to level cap.
There was a time when relics cost an obscene amount of playtime to complete. Mine took 2, almost 3 years.
There was a time when people spend 3 hours camping a single HNM...for a ~5% drop rate.
There was a time when drop rates are so pitiful, people wait in line for months, even years to get their turn for an item. People come up with distribution systems that require player participation (i.e. time). If you don't put in the "massive" amounts of playtime, expect to wait a long time too.
There was a time when you need a party to level up. So some people spend ages waiting...(in Jeuno)...for parties...and no there was no party finder.
There was a time when running a dungeon needs you to walk up to the actual entrance of a dungeon.
There was a time when HNMs are locked behind zone barriers, in zones filled with lethal mobs. Just getting a group to the HNM takes an hour or two.