Well back in the day. When there was NO lvl 70 NA players, A lot of japanese players already had attained lvl 70 (cap wasnt raised to 75 back then). Back then as well some japanese players would help out low lvl newbie players in quests items and certain missions. Now it's kinda different. You rarely get help from a japanese player let a lone a english speaking lvl 75 to help you out. In essence the trip should be your own, and earned on your own if possible. Funny though how that works, because im pretty sure a lot of the so called legendary 75 players of today had a lot of help in the beginning, i believe most of them forgot there roots.
I admit i remember when all i needed was a magicked skull to unlock my sub-job ability back in nov of 03. A japanese player by the name of lunatia was in my party in dunes she was a RNG, after the party was done she put skull? We told her we all needed it all 5 of us. Then she said wait here okay? She warped back to her HP changed into a monk in FULL AF, and took us ALL to gusgen mines where she met with her PLD friend also in full AF. There they proceeded to beat down all the ghouls, needless to say after 3hrs we ALL got our skulls.