I think it's right that FFXIV should have its own identity, but why must it be borrowed from FFXI and nowhere else? FFXI had so many faults, and many insist on bringing those with them to FFXIV. I think it's fair to look to other games which are coming out rather than ones which have been released long ago.

TERA is doing some things right and I think the game itself makes a fair case for bringing those over with the amount of popularity it is receiving. You can argue that it will ruin the integrity/identity of FFXIV but, in reality, wouldn't FFXI ruin it just as much.

FFXI is similar to FFXIV, but that isn't exactly reason to make them even more similar.

There is so much xenophobia around here it's hilarious.