Why is it that when anyone agrees with the way Square-Enix runs things, they are referred to as a "White Knight"? I like that groups are not mandatory for exploration and advancement (aside from dungeons). And it has nothing to do with running to the aid of SE, but rather it's because I work full time and am engaged to a non-gamer which both make my play style pretty casual these days (maybe 1-2 hours a day, more on Saturdays). I'd rather not spend most of that time looking for a group.

I like being able to progress at my own pace on my own terms. If you wish to explore Eorzea as a group, there is nothing stopping you. I have played several MMO games over the course of over a decade, and I believe that not everything in an MMO, least of all exploration, needs to be measured by a challenge of epic proportions. That is what end game is for.