Aetheryte

[Paladinleeds]

There's also a lore reason why there's none in The Dravanian Hinterlands. They're smashed.

Likewise in the Yanxia area, "The House of the Fierce" is also initially broken.

Perhaps then, after completing a certain point in the HW MSQ, a sidequest could be added in which you repair one of the aetherytes in the Hinterlands, to then gain access to it? Like how Yanxia's HOTF is unusable until you repair it via MSQ. Lore-wise, we now have a reason to fix it. Outside of that though, again, less is more, I agree. I would also go as far as to say the Azim Steppe has too many aetherytes. Honestly, Reunion (being the central trade hub) would have been enough.

[Rhus]

Honestly, Reunion would have been enough.

Reunion and Namazu for sure. it's only a shor c.10s flight from Reunion to Dawn Throne.
CCH for sure, if anything I'd say scrap CD and go for Observatorium and Whitebrim. Both have Levemetes and both are used in quests and MSQ quite a bit. CD...once that portion of MSQ is done with I really find no reason to be there, I only teleport in then head off to Obser..or Whitebrim usually.

north shroud does not need another one.even on 1 star mount its only a few seconds to ixali, probably do-able in a sprint...maybe falling a bit short but not much for sure. As for Hrystmill, I see no reason why you should be going from FF to hrystmill by foot anyway, if you'e doing Relic or quests you're probably going to be mounted anyway and so it's only a few moments rom FF.