Wow, that First Page lol.
The Time it takes to get through The Praetorium isn't that bad. Just Watch some netflicks or Do SOMETHING else in the background while the unskipable Cutscene plays out.
If I remember, they said they buffed the EXP rewards to compensate for taking away the ability to skip, and Ill tell you what, 4 - 8mill exp is nothing to sneeze at. I think its a good tradeoff. Your almost gurentee'd a level.

The Castrum Meridianum should be Buffed tho, that place gives barley 2-4mill exp
I know this from raising all of the Combat CLasses.