You really do need to get off the nostalgia trip or whatever it is.
so because you like the game its great, perfect evolution and exactly what FF was working towards. How are you right and hes wrong just because FFXV is what you wanted out of the series.
FF isnt some big "every game is different" shit that people parrot so foolishly. FF1-9 are not that different. The switch to ATB put the turns onto individual timers, but its still all turn based menu driven combat with world maps, cities, towns. They came up with different systems like materia and espers but the games are all very familiar.
FFX is the first one to feel like a departure with the loss of the world map, but other than that feels very familiar.
FFXI the first giant departure since its an MMO.
FFXII comes back and feels awkward to a lot of players with its weird hybrid MMO ATB combat.
FFXIII then feels like FFX with a fast paced combat system with AI allies, but still an ATB bar dictacting your moveset, but a complete removal of towns and linear level design.
FFXIV is again and MMO and a huge departure.
FFXV then is the first Action game in the series. The first single player open world game in the series. The first game with only one playable character in the series.
This isn't some "natural evolution" in game design. A Genre change isnt evolution, its change. Its cool if you like action games and want that to be the series direction, but calling it a natural evolution doesn't fit, and of course isn't going to be something everyone enjoys.
On this very page alone theres several posters claiming "its not a real final fantasy game unless i say so". Always clamoring for turn based combat then proceeding to let games like world of final fantasy bomb.
I bought WoFF, havent played it yet since it was broken on PS4Pro for a while, but you gotta realize that "turn based combat" isnt all people are clamoring for. Its everything that came with the package. There hasnt been a turn based RPG with high production values and a serious story since Lost Odyssey. Its all been tossed aside to low budget games and handhelds. As fun as bravely default can be, it doesnt come close to scratching the final fantasy itch. Then with final fantasy It doesnt help that SE fucking blows at action combat (thank fuck they farmed Nier out to platinum)