I always liked the way retainers work now. It's more... realistic, I guess? And actually makes the retainer's appearance somewhat important. After all, if they only ever exist for you, they may as well just be moogles or something.

Admittedly, I'm biased in that I dislike global, linked "Auction House" type things as they don't make any sense. And given I barely ever use those things in games anyway...