Finally got the chance to experience expert dungeons and I LOVE it!

This is definitely a step up from previous game design.

We have, without spoiling anything:

-Persistent damage from mobs/packs
-Environmental Damage
-Mechanics that require quick reading or reflexes
-Mechanics with small safespots
-Punishment for misplays

All of these are absolutely fantastic and have needed to happen AT LEAST in the expert dungeons for years now.

Going through the current EX dungeons makes me feel like I'm shaking off rust and decay on mental muscles that haven't been used since HW/Stormblood.

Let people actually get good at the game through something that's a step above the difficulty of levelling dungeons. It isn't hard enough that you can't get through on a first try, but hard enough that if you don't know what you're doing, you will have to learn.

I for one, am all for 'Expert' roulette actually feeling like I have to have some knowledge of how to run dungeons and read mechanics. I think they are perfectly tuned to promote growth and learning of the game and am delighted that this is the direction we're moving in!