Sounds like you're playing the wrong game OP.
Final Fantasy games have always been story driven. I don't see why that would change now.
The fact that this game is story driven is what separates it from other MMOs on the market. It's also what keeps me and others, subbed.
Personally, I think they did a great job of making the MSQ take the character through the world and to their first level 50. By and large the side quests can be ignored easily since they are optional content.
I don't see what the problem is.