The story is great, but it blatantly gets in the way of the rest of the game

[kaynide]

This is a lazy argument. This is literally the only RPG in existence where progression and story don't flow together seamlessly and back each other up, but instead get in each other's way.

What does this even mean?

Also I could -literally- list several rpgs where progression doesn’t flow with the story, even going so far as hindering it.

Ultima Exodus being infamous, where leveling up is both a punishment and largely meaningless.