People are complaining that game is too formulaic when that is all the game has EVER been.

Since the dawn of Eorzea, we run old content over and over again. They reskin content (story mode, hard mode, extreme mode). We run roulettes for exp/tomes that is content from 2013-2023. We all know that new level X0 crafted gear will be the same iLvl as story mode raid, and tomestone gear will be 10 above that and augmented tomes/raid gear is another 10 above that. We all know that 24-man raid gear will be same iLvl as the tomestone gear. We all know we'll need to clear whatever tier normal raid 7 times for the weapon upgrade. We all know that body/legs tomestone gear costs 825, other left-side 495, accessories 375.

We all know that the new raid tier will be 4 bosses with the last one likely have 2 phases. We all know that the 24-man raid will be 4 bosses with 2 trash pulls between. We all know that about twice per expansion to expect a new MGP mount. We all know that the extreme trial bosses will drop mounts and if you collect all of them, you get a special mount...

We all know that we'll get from 90-100 running MSQ with almost no other exp needed in-between. We all know to hold onto 4000 hunt marks right before an odd number patch since we can buy the items we need for augmented gear.

All of this has been the case since ARR. And it was the case in HW... then SB... then ShB... then EW. I mean, it has been like this for 10 years. And SE made a boatload of money all the way.

Why would anyone expect the formula for success that they've followed so far to be changed?