Sadly that how XIV is, not that it's a bad thing of course it's more a matter of taste but in this day and age people want to get from Point A to point B in less then 1 min, not go from Point A, to point A2, then A3, then around C just to go to B.

Well see no one is forcing you to take the shortcuts, you are more then welcome to take the long way round, the shortcuts are optional.

the VA I really don't mind in this game. But what bothers you on about it? I know some people complained how the text in FFT was but that is howth doth thy talked in the days of old.