Figuring out lore is not really my thing, but I enjoy reading it. I lurk.

Azem doesn't sweat the small stuff. We're here to punch things and nod sagaciously. Evil artifacts? Unless the Eye of Nidhogg starts bullying people or destroying grapes, we'll leave that to the more bookish types. Every one of the punchy scions has someone smarter assigned to mind them and point them in the right direction. Not our fault.

I take your point on Mount Ordeals, although it was tongue-in-cheek. None of the dungeons revealed so far seem to fit, although I'm hoping that stopping Phantom Train also throws in some Mount Coral references from FFVII in addition to the standard FFVI reference. I want to stop a runaway train under a bit of time pressure.

I'm a big fan of the Mysidian arc from FFIV. Not just because of the redemption motif, but because you start out as an outcast, and have to slowly win everyone over to your side. I really enjoyed the end of ARR/early Heavensward for similar reasons. Hopefully the Sharlayan children don't turn us into frogs or flying pigs.

Right now, the thing that has me the most excited is Pandaemonium and that final dungeon vibe that it seems to have going on. I hope they flesh it out as an instance (no pun intended), make it explorable, and recreate some of that classic Final Fantasy last dungeon feel. Maybe throw in a twinkling final save point marker just outside of the P12 arena.