Sidequests were good before I think and better since you now gain sp/xp. No cutscenes for them and I'm 100% fine with that because they are sidequests. There's enough story to entertain and it gives me a sense of immersion from their dialect and personality.
They're especially good I think if you have something you'd like to level that you haven't yet. It would feel like a waste to do these R10 R15 sidequests with a R30+ job.
