I'd like to join the chorus of voices calling for actual progression through varied areas as your character gains strength. The OP is absolutely right. There's very little feeling of adventure and exploration in this game. When I stop to think about it, for me that's the main reason why I don't feel excited to log into FFXIV.
All of you are right, and the development team needs to know it. They REALLY need to know it. The fact is, fixing this problem sounds like it would probably take a lot of time and resources. But the benefits of doing so would be huge. Honestly, it would put the fantasy into Final Fantasy XIV.
Unique and interesting areas are a must. I would prefer the world to be both seamless AND varied, but if for whatever reason seamlessness has to be sacrificed for variation, then so be it. In such a case they could still make area jumps a little less abrupt by changing the scenery somewhat near the zone lines (such as adding more trees in northeastern Thanalan near the zone to the Shroud).
Yoshida himself said that they can't charge for this game until it meets fans' expectations of a Final Fantasy game. He has also said that he wants the game to feel more like a Final Fantasy. Well, every mainline Final Fantasy game pulls you into a journey around the world. That's part of what makes them so appealing.
To the staff of FFXIV: No matter how difficult these types of changes might sound, please, don't ignore what we're saying in this thread. I believe it could make or break the future of Final Fantasy XIV.
