I just recently came back 3 months ago and I've already been able to create a Twashtar (about a month of casual work)
So true. I don't miss the days of farming silk threads and saruta cottons for haubergeon money for NOTHING. You can make at least 2 million gil every monday night (and I think thursday afternoon, EST) via Gain EXP Records of Eminence quest, which allows you to convert sparks and accolades (currency) to items you can sell to vendors, or used to pop NMs that drop items that sell for a good bit. Even beginners have no real reason to remain broke anymore if they don't sit around and wait for something to happen. There's a ton of stuff to do and I highly recommend anyone thinking about it, to return. You'll get right back into it.