The problem with Final Fantasy XI is that it lacks the customization of its competitors. World of Warcraft players are required to use common macros, plug-ins, and other enhancements to get by with others; Final Fantasy XI players are required to communicate everything through text and, until recently, were not even allowed to run the game windowed, officially —

If the developers of Final Fantasy XI were given the direction to develop the game as it needs to be, console players would be slowly phased out as PC players start to customize their game and their characters the way that they want.

I do not see customizing the game as cheating at all. I envision massively multiplayer online role-playing games as a dog eat dog world, and I think that it is necessary to do whatever you can to become the best player that you can be. But where do you draw the line? That is something that is up to every player to decide for himself.