Which is why when people are like “FFXIV is better than WoW” and then go on to mention WoW’s gatekeeping, I shake my head like… y’all realize FFXIV’s gatekeeping is 75% of its entire game? Don’t get me wrong, I love the story. The quests are more rewarding with its exp and there are countless other ways to level up. People can get to endgame level without completing the story, but you can’t get to actual endgame or anything until you unlock it with the story itself such as the dungeons.
FFXIV doesn’t work for everyone, despite how many times people get into it, because it’s all about the story. If you don’t care about the story, and don’t get excited about several FF references, then you won’t have the legendary experience everyone else is having. But the FFXIV community has all agreed on one thing at least: 1-50 leveling with the story is terrible currently. But it’s like a rite of passage. Heavensward is so worth it.