I think all three of you bring up good points and have said it better than I could. However, keep in mind that the team has been developing FFXIV alongside FFXI since 2005 or so (will need to source an interview when I find it again), and it has been stated that while they only have another years worth of content planned for FFXI, that does not mean it is the end, it's just a buffer they keep.

I would love to experience all the other lands that are mentioned within the story archs, but I am not sure if we will get to see everything in the end. As far as I know, there's still a continent in the west, north, far east and in the south.