This is a radical idea. Some people may not agree. We, the community, are being asked if the current version of FFXIV should stay online.

Content from Seventh Umbral era is set to disappear... Ifrit Battle, Good King Moggle Mog, Garuda, etc.

Unless these battles and content were transferred to the new version, would it not make more sense to keep the current version online to allow PS3 players to experience content before The Realm is Reborn(TM)?

Additionally, I propose the current version of FFXIV be made into a F2P title. Square-Enix obviously had some success when they made the game Buy2Play for the period of one year. I am confident that many more people were playing during that time.

The MMO landscape is changing. Square-Enix needs to embrace the Free2Play model. Star Wars the Old Republic could not stand on its own two feet without offering a Free2Play option. Potentially, this could generate interest in a Realm Reborn by opening the gates of the first game to the general audience and saying: "You can play this for free and we will give you the chance to do a paid character transfer FFXIV: Seventh Umbral Era to A Realm Reborn."