FFXIV is not a failure, never was.

[Sojiro]

If the game was no longer a failure in its current state, then the monthly fees would have started by now. You can't say the game has become a success when the monthly fees haven't even started yet.

FFXIV is on the road to success, but is hasn't gotten there yet.

I have to agree here. I really believe FFXIV will get there in time, but it still has a way to go until it does.