People always throw their 2 cents in.
I just say this..
You have to start some where. I rolled into FFXI with a LS that actually has been together through several other games and we picked up people and lost people along the way. I'm not sure but I don't think end game players just appear in the game. They join LS's as gimp players and build better skill in end game events over time.
I could be wrong. Some of the people who are blasting the OP probably joined FFXI and were automatically placed @ 75 with whatever gear they have.
I wish that happened to be but I sucked at FFXI when I started.. when we started to do HNM we sucked.. we got better .. we became extremely good and then we went to Remora when it opened.
Give people a break.