In a game that is already excessively shot-through with time-sinks(cumbersome battle, no personal transportation beyond anima in a huge, dull world, menus upon menus, tedious crafting, numbing grinding) I don't think it's in the best interest of SE to be giving another reason not to play the game. Too many deaths occur by accident, so forming a just punishment is silly. The whole argument of 'It will make people better players" is ridiculous, it will make people ex-players and SE doesn't want that obviously. If all you die-hards are so torn up about not being penalized, next time you die in-game, go grind sp on your R50 job for four hours and just imagine you were penalized.

Square should really be focusing on turning this game into something enjoyable--not trying to rekindle some nostalgia. Harsh death penalties that stop people from playing is absurd to me, dying on an NM, having to wait on weakness and run back to find a rival LS has taken your claim is punishment enough.