Hi,
I dont think expansion zones are that different to the base game (so far HW/SB). It's still a big empty zone with story to follow and then bye bye that zone. It's one of my main gripes with the FFXIV. World and those areas hold very little meaning and it's not like you search the secrets of them like you do in many other games.
Then again it's Final Fantasy style. You follow the story rather than explore and admire the zone you are in :D
