I've played GW2 a while ago and don't see how it's really that different from FATEs. I think FFXIV does an okay job at open world. I'm grinding FATEs right now to finish the SharedFATEs and I see people doing that with me. When I'm out gathering I see people also gathering alongside me. And of course there are hunts, which I assume people are doing since I see the messages about the ranked monsters.

I think they've got the right mix right now. Open World content is fun, but it's always kind of superficial. You see other people but the ways you interact with them isn't as deep as in an instance dungeon, trial or raid.