Ironically, this system is called " RPG elements" in an action game.

People, oh people.
I can understand some of your concerns, I really do. the director himself stated that the battle system is meant to be like Kingdom Heart series but with FF elements, that basically means fast ,yet, user frindly action ( hopefully without the same camera issues in KH). Saying it "looks" like a hack & slash game is just trolling ... still funny though, never loses the charm, hah

RPG elements, let's see.

* Evolving battle system. The character build is not pre-predetermined like in action games. Strength along with difficulty balance are based on the Level system. The higher your level, the more abilities you unlock. New abilities and magic / spells keep the battle system fresh and ever evolving the way the player choose it to be. That makes the system more personal to the player. aka role playing.

* Weaknesses , status elements. not evey attack / spell is effective everytime.

* Party system, timing your attacks. Already stated by the director that switching between characters and timing their attacks would play big role in battle.

* Command list, MP, Item usage, Summons.. you know FF stuff.

FF15 will definitely be interesting, sales-wise. On one hand they are alienating the traditional FF crowd who prefer a different gameplay style, but on the other they're opening up the door for people who weren't necessarily fans of the series before for the same reason the original fans liked it.
Sales may be amazing just because of hype, or they may what you'd expect a FF game to sell, maybe it'll underperform because of the new style. Whatever the case, it'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

Day 1

Do you doubt there will be a leveling system of some sort? It will most likely be like previous titles (Sphere Grid based I assume)

JRPGs are just as much Role Playing as the WRPGs that. They have two very different approaches.....usually.

WRPGs = Allowing the player to put himself into a different world, they create the story with their chosen actions.

JRPGs = Puts the player in the body of a set character so they can experience the character's experience in a story they wish to tell.(See what they see, feel what they feel)

Its the difference between Reality TV and TV Drama.

So, you are going to be the bully now? :P

You clearly love to make list of repeated point. This is a narrow vision of what an RPG should be. A game can be an RPG in many different ways. What you describe is a 100% westren RPG. a style that has its strength and weaknesses.

Character creation means no character is presented in the game at all, you get that doll you move around, no interest, no personality. nothing to attach to, that is 100% anti-RPG in a way. You need to understand that offering preformed character and one main story path is also a role playing but from a different angle. When you have a character that you attach to, you put yourself in that character shoes, taking a certain role is also an RPG. The world is not always about you :p. FF also offers small side stories which you can do or not ... Again, Role playing.

About leveling up system , " predetermined level ups/ability gains" , Wrong. Have you players X, X-2 , XIII , XIII-2, LR ?. All offers wide range of abilities / roles / spheres, whatever. X offers stats in a different way.

I'll copy my previous post in case you missed it.

RPG elements, in XV:

* Evolving battle system. The character build is not pre-predetermined like in action games. Strength along with difficulty balance are based on the Level system. The higher your level, the more abilities you unlock. New abilities and magic / spells keep the battle system fresh and ever evolving the way the player choose it to be. That makes the system more personal to the player. aka role playing.

* Weaknesses , status elements. not evey attack / spell is effective everytime.

* Party system, timing your attacks. Already stated by the director that switching between characters and timing their attacks would play big role in battle.

* Command list, MP, Item usage, Summons.. you know FF stuff.

I love you

Its as much an RPG as Kingdom Hearts.

Its an action RPG. They have been around since the PS1 days. But, the improvement in tech is leading both genres to get ever closer (action games and action RPG).

?