I know this is going to be downvoted.

And I'm sorry, SE, but... that's not enough to keep me subbed.

http://mud.co.uk/richard/The%20Decline%20of%20MMOs.pdf

If your MMO looks gorgeous, features a popular intellectual property, you have big-name stars doing voice-overs, your characters act fluidly and everything oozes quality, then people will want to play it. They will see that money has been spent on the surface quality, so will assume it has also been spent on depth quality. They are, however, likely to be disappointed: most developers spend so much on surface than they have little left for depth. The look and IP of a game is good at attracting new players, but has little to do with making playing an MMO fun.

Now fun is subjective and I'm sure there are still people that are playing and find the combat fun. But I'm also sure there are many people that have quit because they don't find the combat fun. You either like the 2.5s GCD and the fact that FFXIV is team jumping rope, or you don't. And I fall into the latter category.

Also, for the record, I've never played WoW in my life. Although some FC mates have stated how they're spoiled by WoW.