Heavensward is still the best expansion for me, and I think that it will be hard to Shadowbringers overcome it. It's hard to beat a good, linear, consistent tale of vengeance and hatred, dealing with the political corruption of an entire city, traveling with the best squad (god, I love that scene by the fire so much), all while exiled in a unknown place, so different from the rest of Eorzea but still very beautiful in a classic medieval fantasy setting.

I never cared so much for MMO characters as I did while reading those quests. I still remember the first time running The Vault, the goosebumps of facing Nidhogg and seeing that final cutscene with Ysayle and Haurchefant melting my heart. And yes I agree with your post! Oh boy, Thordan and Nidhogg are such good villains. One of the bests in the history of Square Enix writing in my honest opinion.