Am I playing the game wrong?

[Ronduwil]

I am a new player (highest char @ 36) and I feel like I'm not getting what I should from the game.

I'm not sure what you feel you should be getting, so I'm not sure how to help you with that.

I gain so much experience that I level way ahead of the MSQ which results in being synced, which in many cases removes the functionality of the spells I've earned.

I agree that the syncing removing functionality is super annoying, but it is what it is. As for leveling way ahead of the MSQ, consider focusing exclusively on the MSQ with your main job and then switching to an alternate job for any FATEs and/or side quests that you want to do. I did that for the latest expansion, and I was able to keep my MSQ and XP gain synced for the most part, even hitting a small wall at one point where I actually had to side quest a couple of hours with my main job to progress.

It also deters exploring the world and doing other quests as I detest having spells available then having them turned off. That is such bad form. How can I prevent this?

Level an alternate job alongside your main job.

The game is too easy, near zero risk of death. I believe I've completed 4 or 5 different dungeons at this point and they've been super easy. Open world game play is even easier thus far. Is there a hard mode so a decent challenge can be achieved?

Difficulty progression is a thing in this game, alongside leveling progression. I guarantee many wipes in your future, but I doubt you'll see any below level 47. As far as open world challenges go, you won't find any while questing. There are some special FATE bosses and elite marks that provide good challenges, however. You're just too low level to have encountered those.

I have transitioned from rogue to ninja and lancer to dragoon thus far. In both cases the game play didn't change. I thought the new jobs would be more transformative, did I miss a quest (or quest chain) that would have made it be more game changing?

Once you unlock the mudras for ninja, you'll find the gameplay very different. Sadly, one weakness of this game is that most jobs don't really feel complete until level 70 or so. The paladin rotation, for example, felt super wonky to me until level 80, at which point it finally made sense. I guarantee that playing your job at level cap will feel worlds apart from playing it at low level.

[Gamedad]

I'm not sure what you feel you should be getting, so I'm not sure how to help you with that.

A challenge and an adventure. (ya, was too vague lol) I'm about the journey, side trips you take along the way and less about the destination when gaming. Because this game is old, it seems the destination is where the challenge is. Because of how the jobs develop, they too are nearer to the destination. The 80/20 rule kicks in for me...is the 20% near the end worth putting up with the 80% less desirable content you have to go through to get there? It's a good thing both the music and artistry are really good!

I am in no way trying to flame the game, I'm just trying to reset expectations if possible. This game has some really good qualities. One of those is the community. There were plenty of thoughtful comments that were constructive and helpful. I very much appreciate the input.

[MiaShino]

A challenge and an adventure. (ya, was too vague lol) I'm about the journey, side trips you take along the way and less about the destination when gaming.

This lala over here would strongly strongly suggest sticking through ARR until you finally unlock Heavensward. It is almost meme here "In Heavensward it gets better!" but it kinda really does. Will take between one through three days if you charge through ARR and post ARR. The story improves vastly from, "What the heck am I even doing and why?" to journey across lands near and far to bridge the divide betwixt dragon and man.

Class progression feels much of the better as you begin to unlock all the stuffs that define how your job plays. You finally begin unlocking content that cannot always be unga bunga'ed to victory. Once further progression occurs into post Heavensward you are treated to Alex (Eight man twelve part raid series, much of the fun!) annnd the Void series (more 24 man raids that are vast improvement over Crystal Tower). Heck even the CT series may be most fun for you if only for something different. World Of Darkness still gives groups trouble some of the time! This unlocks at 50.

Because this game is old, it seems the destination is where the challenge is. Because of how the jobs develop, they too are nearer to the destination. The 80/20 rule kicks in for me...is the 20% near the end worth putting up with the 80% less desirable content you have to go through to get there? It's a good thing both the music and artistry are really good!

ARR and post ARR are.. rough. There is no sugar coating this I say with much sadness. Taking from friends, many of them finally began enjoying themselves once leaving ARR into post ARR.

Be certain you do Blue+ quests once those unlock. There are mountains of side content I feel you will likely enjoy. Many dungeons, entire raids, silly quest lines like Hildibrand which do unlock trials. Plenty all not requiring you to be at end game to enjoy.

I am in no way trying to flame the game, I'm just trying to reset expectations if possible. This game has some really good qualities. One of those is the community. There were plenty of thoughtful comments that were constructive and helpful. I very much appreciate the input.

Much understanding here! If there are friends and family you can play through with that may improve the ARR - Post ARR grind too. Know this helped my friends and family continue playing when they may have quit. If you can persevere once you unlock "Keeper of the Lake" that is when real fun begins! Best of the luck out there fellow adventurer! If you ever require assistance feel free to boop one of us as it seems you are on my datacenter.