The Ancients/Ascians are all dead and the Garlean Empire no longer exists so I’m not sure what you’re expecting. The story doesn’t have anything to gain by lingering over the leftovers of old plot threads. FFXI keeps it fresh with new villains every expansion and it’s passed time FFXIV did the same and went into something new for the first time in a decade.
Keeping the Scions around as “the main characters of FFXIV” going around wherever the plot demands and having plot happen to them like it’s a long-running battle anime series is certainly a choice but it’s certainly better than having to face Zenos again and again, or the dregs of an Empire that’s already collapsed and that we’ve fought in every single expansion already, or a secret Ascian C-team of black masks who would pale in comparison to the Unsundered in both power and presence, or yet another Golbez doing Golbez things.
I don’t see how fighting the same enemies over and over when they have less power and influence than before is compelling. Those stories have already been told, the obstacles have been surmounted, and the characters, the game world, and the plot have moved on.
