I can partially agree with some of your points, but I completely disagree with 1 and 3.

1) Making you gather the aether forces you to actually experience the zone and content and deal with the mobs. If you could fly right away, THAT would defeat the purpose of even having anything in the zone at all. Might as well make it empty or make all the mobs flying creatures.

3) The story makes perfect sense. [SPOILERS] You are dishonored, disgraced and on the run. With no way to prove your innocence, you are forced to take shelter in Ishgard. While some Ishgardians have heard of you and your exploits, you're still a foreigner and largely unproven in the eyes of most Ishgardians. Your patron is taking a risk just vouching for you. It makes sense you would have to start at the bottom of the ladder and work your way up again.


I do agree that filler quests are annoying and there are better ways to handle quest-leveling, but they aren't completely useless. They do make you explore the area.