I don't think I have anything to add that hasn't already been said in favor of the higher difficulty, but I'm personally very relieved that the game is giving me a challenge after I was so underwhelmed by the last couple years of normal content. I play XIV for the story above all, make no mistake, but I also enjoy developing and refining a skill - if I can't fail, learn, and strive, what's the point of the MMO aspect of this game? I only consider myself a slightly-above-average player, but I found the majority of the raids in post-EW to be painfully dull once I'd learned the fight (Myths of the Realm in particular). It's nice that everything isn't one-and-done this time, especially since I'll have to replay these fights for tomes.