The storylines in the new Final Fantasies are different, not worse, in my opinion. As for the game play, FFX had a superior battle and levelling system to all FFs in my opinion. VIII also had a good battle system.
I think that people should stop complaining about how much Final Fantasy sucks now and just stop playing if they don't like it.
I think it will continue well past XIV, which, by the way, will feature an extremely affeminite vampire with really lame hair. I can predict the future, I tells you.