Do encounteres (specifically Extremes) FEEL different now?

[Iscah]

EX2 was a lot harder for people to figure out on sight since "hiding behind cyrstals" wasn't something non-Savage players were at all familiar with. Generally, things on the field don't do much unless the players have control over placement (such as the rocks before Behemoth uses Meteor in Labyrinth of the Ancients).

I think you're overlooking a few instances where that exists in normal content. Garuda's rock pillars, Fenrir's icicles, Cruise Chaser's metal thingy and the crystal scorpion's pillars all come to mind, and there may be others that I haven't thought of.

Edit: the gryphon boss in Dusk Vigil is another one.