Final Fantasy is one of the top MMOs worldwide right now, I don't think its origins factor into the argument. Nor do I think the A Realm Reborn rework is an argument against open race/class combinations, as race/class combinations were not a factor in why the original attempt was disliked, nor was it a factor in the rework, a rework that is celebrated as one of the best examples of a developer listening to and appropriately reacting to feedback from its fans in gaming history.
As far as you saying lore-wise you would never give an Orc a wand; I would. Why should your stereotypes of a race limit my gameplay experience? If race and class combinations were unrestricted, you could still choose NOT to make an Orc mage or necromancer or paladin if you don't like the concept. But restricting race/class combinations means that developers are artificially limiting player choice and player opinion. The lore-based argument becomes especially frustrating when the race/class restrictions aren't consistent. If I were to use WoW as an example, many fans continue to argue against Orcs being able to play paladins because they don't share the human worship of the Light and are "too evil." This is despite the fact that there are other races in WoW currently that can play paladins who also don't share the human worship of the Light. And if that were the case, why are humans, who worship the Light and are seen by these same fans as the "good" alternative to the Orcs, able to play warlocks? If the stereotypically holy and pious humans have members who eschew their cultural norms to wield demonic magics, why is it impossible to see members of the Orc race eschew their cultural norms and become paladins?
The same inequity exists in Scars of Honor's currently proposed race/class restrictions. Humans, described on their race's page as "noble beings with a will for life like no other. Even in the eyes of death humans draw their strength from their unmatched faith in the sacred gods" can be necromancers or pirates. If we're looking at race/class restrictions following strict racial stereotypes; humans shouldn't be allowed to play either class, as it clashes with their lore of being pious and their own page stating: "From birth to death they follow sacred laws written by the first men."
Keep in mind that the lore is being worked on as we speak, many things will change including the class/race availability.
Lore wise everyone can be corrupted, no matter how big of a worshiper he is, and vice versa the big bad Orc can be brought into the light.
How about a "Bad Paladin" on the Domination side, a class that has broken every sacred oath of the Paladin Order and is now a zealot, an "Oathbreaker" š
That is why these topics are here, to brainstorm and gather your feedback/ideas š