They are 2 separate rooms because the story.
1 room that you enter before the garleans raid it, 1 room you enter after this event.
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More or less this. The game has to check your mission flags when you enter Waking Sands etc to load the proper version of the area. If they were a part of the zone as a whole the game would have to check the flags every time you zone into Western Thanalan which is a traffic increase on the server and more loading time when you zone.
My legs they don't work!
There are some shortcuts available, although a bit circuitous and occasionally just one-way.
Ruby Road Exchange/Airships:
Take the aethernet to the Chamber of Rule and then hop on the elevator. I agree, though, that the Adventurer's Guild aetheryte shard could stand to be moved just inside the zone border on the Sapphire Avenue Exchange side (I figure that's where you actually want it) or a brand new one by the FC chest in the markets. Likewise to the airships, Gridania's airship area could benefit from an aetheryte shard.
Red Rooster Stead:
Limsa Aetheryte to residential aethernet and leave out the front door, but of course everyone should know that. What you may not know is that there's a ferry in the residential area that takes you back to Limsa. Aethernet over and talk to the Maelstrom soldier by the boat and choose to leave the residential area (also works in Gridania's residential area, I don't know about Ul'dah's, but that's just around the corner from the city anyway).
Blacksmith/Armorer's Guild:
Coming back from the Limsa residential area puts you nearby, but loading times easily make up the difference from just running there from the Aftcastle. Could really use an aethernet shard to get back to the rest of the city.
Moraby Bay:
Take the Fishermen's Guild ferry to Aleport, then take the Aleport ferry to Candlekeep Quay (80 gil total one-way). Return the same way.
Vesper Bay:
Take the Arcanist Guild ferry straight to Vesper for 80 gil one-way, also returns. Great for getting to Cape Westwind in a hurry.
Whitebrim Front:
Nope, no shortcuts. This one definitely needs an aetheryte. If you just need to get to Boulder Downs, it's faster to go from Mor Dhona. The Observatory, however, is about equidistant between Mor Dhona, Fallsgourd Float, and the Coerthas aetheryte.
St. Coinach's Find:
While closer to Mor Dhona than Whitebrim is to Coerthas, and certainly shorter than the distance between Quarrymill and Camp Tranquil, it's still a fair jog out to go to a dead-end. An aetheryte here isn't really necessary, but it wouldn't be a dealbreaker. It's even longer getting to the Fogfens (Ceruleum Processing Plant is faster to the imperials, about the same to swamps), but I somehow doubt they'd want to set up an aetheryte in enemy territory.
http://hrschoolhouse.com/wp-content/...gp-300x300.jpg
Not even gonna explain it, re-read it until you understand.
On another topic, I see you're getting used to singling me out now huh? Did I hit a nerve with this and the previous question?
Did any of us complain about having to choose between walking or running? My point is people are complaining when they are able to take the long route, when they are not forced to take the shortcut.
Pretty much this ---v
Cry as much as you want, if you want your big areas with half an hour to travel from point A to point B XI is still alive and kicking, waiting for you.