MSQ

[Vidu]

To be clear, I'm mostly complaining about the 80 MSQ quests to get out of ARR and such, which I have done, but the friends I play with, two of whom played Everquest with, one of whom will never return, one of whom is close to giving up.

Probably because they know better to fall for this trap.

I think its great that your friends know what they're looking for in a game and that they pick a game that suits there needs! If FFXIV isnt that game for them, thats fair - it suits different needs (or probably "wants" would be a better word...) that different people might have.

Isnt it great that there are so many games out there that we all have a high chance of finding one that really hits the spot for us? For some that might be Everquest, for some - and I would include myself in that category - its FFXIV. And for me the storyfocus, that most dungeons are connected to the story, that I always know why I'm in that dungeon and why I'm fighting that monster there, is a huge part of why FFXIV hits my spot - it doesnt have to hit your spot, it doesnt have to hit the spot of your friends. There are many games out there to chose from... and I'm happy for your friends if they found a game they can enjoy!
Not everyone has to enjoy everything - but if you try to turn something that already exists but that you dont enjoy into something you enjoy, you might just make that into something thats less enjoyable for the people who liked the "original" thing... seems hardly fair to me.

If FFXIV has to much that you - or your friends - dont like or that you cant get your head around, theres nothing wrong with switching to a different game thats more fun to you.