Current Problem Parallels

[Valkyrie_Lenneth]

As far as FFXIV related sites are concerned, Gamer Escape is pretty reputable given that it serves as a database for the game's quests, item descriptions and various other things. So whilst you're certainly free to downplay the source - which I suspect would be done regardless of whichever site was linked - you're also free to do your own research. Maybe find a video of the cosplay event in question.

I have no need to look up a video. I was there.

And no, a video source would be a valid source.

[Lauront]

You keep leaning on that as a sort of desperate 'gotcha' attempt though it isn't true at all. If people didn't care about the game or enjoy it then they wouldn't bother speaking up. Many of us simply don't care for the creepy cult that shields Yoshi-P from any criticism whatsoever. I mostly play for the sake of my house, friends and PvP. That doesn't mean I loathe the game though.

It's as the OP put it:

As it currently stands, any kind of player unhappiness or wanting to ask the dev team to be held to a higher standard is met by the community with one of a few things:
"If you don't like it then quit"
"I'm happy so I don't care"
"You can't expect the devs to solve this problem"

These kind of responses are what slowly sent WoW into an uncontrolled death spiral.
As issues that needed addressing popped up, the community would take to the forums, and complain and try to get the game to reverse course.

It was met with fierce resistance every single time. Getting told to shut up, or to quit, or to find a new game, etc etc.

We are seeing the exact same thing currently happening right now on FFXIV.

EW has had some absolutely serious mis-steps. But by far and large the community has absolutely demanded that there be zero criticism ever because one time Yoshi-P cried on camera or something.

The fact that there is an entire army waiting to bludgeon even the most honest and valid of complaints and concerns is the telltale sign that FFXIV is entering into it's decline period. Much like WoW did. It's not going to magically be a bad game tomorrow like people think. It's going to be a very slow, very gradual process, where one bad mistake after the other is added. People will try to say something, because they love the game, only to be met by a community who will take every single opportunity to be hostile and will defend every single bad decision like a matter of personal honor.