ARR's big problem isn't those two MSQ though, their quality is fine and if you're at that part in the story it's actually interesting. Their implementation is just horrid for replay. When I warn people about anything when joining the game it's the desert of filler between ARR and Heavensward. THAT really could be lost or at least condensed with little to no impact on the story.
So far when I've introduced people to the game it's not the MSQ gruesome twosome that they balk at , it's that nothing under 60 seems to be a challenge at all. If they spent anytime at all on reworking old content I'd want them to make ALL old duties more challenging by at least heavily scaling gear.