Woah ... Slow down a bit ...

[LogicHatesMe]

Then don't choose a server that has the Road to 70 Buff on. I joined as a first time FFXIV player (but not an MMO virgin) on a server with the buff, and was like level 28 before I did Sastasha at 15.

The reason they do this is to incentivise people to join those servers because they are quiet, it's a reward for NOT joining a busy server where all your friends might play, and you may have an easier time getting parties for FATEs and Raids. I suppose from a design standpoint, when they open a new server, or are trying to drive up the population on a new server, they want to have a suitably high population of people at end game and maxed out on their classes and gear, so that new players have people to guide them through the game. They offer you options, if this is not for you, then you may pick a server that is already established, and doesn't offer this reward.

It's not like they're forcing you to have a permanent EXP buff after all.

[Shibi]

Then don't choose a server that has the Road to 70 Buff on.

OP is on Marlboro, we are on Faerie. Neither of these are preferred servers, are they? In fact, until recently, Faerie was congested.

When you switch classes you are going back to level 1

Mm, I worked that out sometime in 2013 when level 30 was the highest. Point is, it's insanely fast for a first job. It needs to slow down a lot, especially at the lower levels to give people time to find their legs. Bank the XP for the second job, or allow the XP to flow faster on a second job. But for that first job, the system really could allow a little time for people to find their legs, it's insanely fast.

[MsQi]

OP is on Marlboro, we are on Faerie. Neither of these are preferred servers, are they? In fact, until recently, Faerie was congested.

He said he started a new character in a new world. So it is likely on a different world from the character he is posting with.