A lot of people are using the immersion argument against jumping, and that FFXI didn't need it, so we don't either. There is no logic in citing FFXI as an example, what with all the jumpy jig dancing that happened after they introduced the Dancer job. It's not any more distracting than jumping.

Jumping does serve an actual purpose, however. Not just to get down from ledges or across cracks or uneven terrain.

In FFXI I fell three times through the docks in front of Windy's fishing guild. Jumping might have helped me get out of that jam, instead of having to submit a ticket and wait 30 minutes for a GM to get me out.

In FFXIV, there's a 2-inch high bit of carved stone in the basement of the Mizzenmast by the chocobo stables where I always get hung up. Of course, if this game allowed you to walk backwards (something else that's also missing), I'd just take a step back and walk around it. My second option would be to try to jump over it, but I can't. Instead, I'm forced to pan my camera around, pivot and circle around like some kind of obstacle course.

I believe that jumping is necessary. I don't want to use it because I'm bored, or I want more flavor. I just want to properly control my character, and this is a tool that will help me!