What is a crappy FOV? On the few times I tried messing with the value to see what it was about, I noticed low numbers don't bother me, but higher numbers make it look like I'm playing a cyclops.
To put it one way, a low FOV feels like you have horse blinders on, or like the camera is permanently zoomed in. Human beings have a pretty wide field of view and when your FOV is too low and you're sitting too close to the monitor, there is a sensory conflict between what you are seeing and what your brain thinks should be there. This makes some people uncomfortable, some don't care, and some actually get sick or headaches from it. Either way an adjustable FOV should be a
mandatory inclusion in any game, because every player is different.
His statements might make some sense, but consider that a lot of players get used to or don't notice the fish-eye effect, especially because it's mostly in your peripheral vision (which your own eyes actually do have as well, just much more subtly). Having a wider FOV simulates wider peripheral vision, which is why many players find it more comfortable provided the distortion it causes is not excessive.
However, saying "you should play the game using default FOV because the developer intended it that way" is as retarded as saying that "you should play the game with the default control scheme, without rebinding keys, because the developer intended for the game to be controlled a certain way"... even if that layout is difficult, awkward or painful for you. Or, better yet "game developers shouldn't put colorblind modes in their games because it doesn't show the game's full and correct color range."
Additionally, I would dispute that having a high FOV hurts depth perception in a 3D game. If anything, because your view is wider and the horizon vanishing point is "farther" away, it
improves your depth perception to have a high FOV by subtly accentuating the differences in distance.
