1. True, FFXIV shouldn't try to be like other MMOs, FFXI included. It should include SOME good elements of other MMOs but remain a unique game on its own.
2. I rather like anima and I've grown accustomed to it. Maybe if chocobos, airships, and warp/teleport spells are added, it'd be time to get rid of it, but as it is, it's the only tolerable way to traverse the massive world map on a heavily budgeted time schedule.
3. Housing would be cool; perhaps make it also function as a player-run shop if the player so chooses. Give crafters their own identity in the world. Give us an alternative to market wards or an auction house or bazaars.
4. No. I disagree. I like the armory system as-is. The only complaint I have with the armory system is that I believe the game should store your skill and attribute and maybe even equipment sets on a per-class basis and immediately reload your skill bar, your attribute "build", and your gear set upon class change. At the VERY least, the skill bar should be saved, seeing as doing this with attributes would require a massive overhaul of the attribute system, and gear isn't quite as bad as 2-3 hotbars full of skills to swap out.
5. Not necessarily "painful", but some sort of penalty wouldn't hurt. It's meant to be a more casual-friendly game than FFXI, so losing an hour's worth of grinding to a random death would defeat the purpose.
6. I like the way spells are currently handled. Perhaps make AoE versions cost more MP than single target, but as-is, the toggle system is something I like and wish other games would pick up on.
7. I'm not sure on this. I like the armory system as-is; I already said that. The classes are meant to be weapon specialties, not jobs. I see them added a job system on top of the current class system, not in place of it. As-is, you can build your character however you want using whatever skill and attribute builds you choose. I love the customization potential for any given class. I don't want that taken away.
8. Party flag and search would definitely be a good feature. I don't see why the game shouldn't have it in some form.