FFXIV is a terrible coop game to play with your friends.

[Kaurhz]

Uh,

Whilst I don't entirely disagree, in the same vein, half of the problems you've described, especially surrounding the MSQ are almost entirely self-inflicted decisions. I've met people who have done the entire story solo across just a couple of weeks, just as I have met groups of people doing the story together across a much more extended period. Granted, the game could do more to facilitate group play, e.g., straying away from some reliance on solo duties, but aside from that it is self-inflicted, and is up to the player to involve themselves with other players, or a small community of players also at the same point.

I would also say, I think you would be surprised at the number of people who play MMOs, not necessarily for the social experience, but just the experience of being involved in a world that has strangers, or other people roaming around. Personally, I fall into this category, the only exception to this bizarrely enough being on a new expansion, where I usually get together with a few friends and play through the story.