They're probably trying to keep it semi-rewarding for veteran players, but not as mandatory to do to get stuff like Monberaux and the Martial Treatises.
Imagine someone coming back to the game and being told they can't get a particularly important reward unless they grind for 3 years straight. Since it has gameplay implications unlike FFXIV's subscription cosmetics that'd be downright insane (even moreso than current deed lockouts are).
I can definitely agree with making the decent rewards more accessible to new or returning players, but throwing a small amount of copper vouchers, job points, and extra hallmarks/gallantry at veteran players falls largely short of even semi-rewarding by comparison, in my opinion.
Keys/Year |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
SP Gobbie Key |
20 |
20 |
10 |
Dial Key ANV |
30 |
30 |
10 |
Dial Key Fo |
0 |
5 |
10 |
Total |
50 |
55 |
30 |
The only thing that's slightly improved is the amount of Mars/Venus orbs available, at the cost of the Themis, Phobos, Deimos, Zelos, Bia, Micro, and Macro orbs.
Beyond all that, if SE was especially concerned about preventing people from catching up to current content, they'd start removing the three-person minimum and/or time lockouts on older content like coalition imprimaturs, Delve, Dynamis Divergence, Omen, etc. This just feels rushed or like they couldn't be bothered.
Granted, the monthly RoEs weren't exactly demanding in the first place (with the possible exception of the time requirement for gardening), so I guess this round of rewards is more in line with the level of effort. It would've been nice to get some free 109 and 119 Empyrean armor to round out the free 109/119/+2 Artifact and Relic armor from years one and two, respectively.
At least we get another free pulse weapon. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯