I have to say that I didn't find guild leves THAT repetitive. Perhaps they could've used some more aetheryte camps to spread things out and give more options. Maybe make Halatali better for four people parties and make broken water better for eight people parties. But in all honesty they managed something that wasn't straight enemy killing and wasn't as repetitive and boring as quest chains. It was a good idea that I wish they hadn't put on the back burner.
But yes! thumbs up for open world instances. Not that I necessarily approve of this over full open world but why have any instances when you can have your instances in open world.