RPG SITE REALM REBORN INTERVIEW

[Absconditus]

RPG Site: Has there ever been any consideration to add fashion/vanity slots to the game? Basically separate slots for equipment that actually gives you stats, with the option of a second row of slots where you can put in other armor. The armor would then be your visible gear—something like that which has been present in other modern MMOs.
Yoshida: This has been talked about, but will not be available at the time of relaunch, as we feel that it will make it harder to distinguish between classes/jobs if their appearance does not match their party role. However, we have not abandoned the possibility of implementing such a system in the future.

This I don't quite get their reasoning behind. They could (and in my personal opinion should) limit vanity slot items to the classes that can actually wear the equipment, or even the type of equipment (with 'hidden' class/job restrictions?). Want to wear Darklight Caligae as a vanity slotted item for your feet? Well then you better be on either MNK, DRG or BRD. For pieces of gear that All Classes can wear, they can either exclude them from vanity slots, or look at the type of armor it is and limit it to certain classes, e.g., the new Yukata's could be limited to CNJ, WHM, THM and BLM—As it may seem a bit more natural on those classes/jobs in combat.

Being able to select a look based on exactly that, looks, and to not be dictated by stats, would be very welcomed by me at least. And don't get me wrong, I'm fine with it not being available at launch and would rather see them use their efforts elsewhere as needed, however, I do hope that it comes down the line with the proper restrictions attached. I can of course also see the potential headache with macros for this though, from already needing 2 macros to gear up fully, to needing 3 (with the current limitations)—but then again, an Odin-sent gift from the heavens would be that the different classes/jobs remembered what you last were wearing at any rate, like the Action Bar remembers where your skills are located.