The main reason the camera controls was striped from the arrow keys is easily summed up in one word Combat. The action selector doing laps at the start of combat and having to use the ijkl keys to move your camera to gain a better view of the action was one of the many gripes during alpha. Back then the mouse controlled the camera in a look spring fashion and it was there way or the highway when it came to key binds. Making the arrow keys control only system functions was the most straight forward and simplest method of welding that can of worms shut permanently. Not saying anything one way or the other, just letting people who might not have known in on why the change was made.

I know the transition is jarring for those coming from xi. it took me a while to adapt as well. I have taken to using the wasd keys for movement and have rebound 8462 on the numpad for my camera. this puts my right hand as the nerve center for camera control and skill activation. When i am not in combat i use a mix of the mouse and num pad for camera control. my ijkl keys have been rebound for inventory, journal, craft/gathering, and loot pool respectively.