Character graphical changes are NOT in an acceptable state, please make it optional

[DiaDeem]

Can you please elaborate on this? Both of these screenshots were taken in the character creator of the benchmark and current game, and I made sure to match the angle and orientation to the environment as closely as I possibly could. I also have the same graphics settings in both. What should I change to get a more accurate comparison?

Oh! Sure!

See, the new character creator has this weird rotating light cycle. The sun like... gets covered by a cloud or something, but it basically causes general lighting to change in the Shroud/Thanalan/Noscea areas of the character creator every few seconds. If you let your character just sit there for a moment, you'll notice this weird effect taking place. Your second screenshot was taken when the sun wasn't hitting your character directly, so the comparison is a bit off.

If you see Sosoma and Thais's posts, you'll see how they're waiting for the sun to hit the character in the same way as the old character creator.
You can also use the Inn or the Crystal areas, which don't have the weird rotating light cycle. The Inn is kinda nice too because it also lets you match the background making sure your character is exactly in the same position.

All your second shot needed really was to wait for the sun to get in the right place once again. Mind you, I don't expect this to 180 your opinion, but it will give you a better before and after look of your character.

Cheers!