1 simple fix to achieve some of this "Journey" that we speak of is if they revised the GuildLeves in a couple of ways:

1.) GuildLeve Chains: If a particular Leve sends you to a camp, upon completion of that Leve an NPC at that camp then offers you a related Leve that sends you to a Hamlet (or outpost or cave, etc.) which upon completion starts another Leve that sends you further into the wilderness, then eventually to another Aetherite Camp in a new zone. It may be too linear for some tastes but it would give the illusion of progress.

2.) GuildLeve Bonus Runs: If you complete a 1 Star Leve and qualify for the Early Completion Bonus, an NPC at the camp is so impressed that he/she offers you another run of the same Leve but at 2 Star level. If you get the Early Completion Bonus again, you get offered a 3 star repeat, all the way up to 5 stars. You would be allowed to group up with others to continue the chain.
Imagine peeps at camps shouting for groups instead of just soloing in silence.

Yoshi has stated that GuildLeves will be the domain of Casual/Solo players but nothing has been said of any GuildLeve reforms. I hope that they have considered some of the many good suggestions from several (old) threads on these forums with regards to GuildLeve redesign.

I still think Leves can provide that sense of Adventure many of us want, if they would just take some time to improve them.