FF14 player count reached the lowest point in 4 years. We lost 75% of the playerbase.

[Jason_Ashford]

Well, I'm going through it normally, and I'm still in Stormblood, and I can't play with my friends yet. It's a bit frustrating, so I can understand their plight. I've been at this for a year. Now I'm going to take quite a break.

what do you mean? They can run dungeons with you, they can queue into raids, trials, etc. with you, they can play content like Eureka with you. you act as if only current endgame matters and that is ludicrous, especially when content like Eureka is still active 7-8 years later.

if your friends are refusing to play with you because they don't need the rewards, then they weren't really friends to begin with, just acquaintances who play the same game.

I would happily rerun the entire game from ARR through Dawntrail a second time with my friends, so i don't see what their excuse is to not to have that mentality for you.