large worlds take time to traverse. Imagine spanding 3 hours to get from point a to pint b using 5 different travel methods. ppl would quit. I like morrowwind and oblivions take. The world feels larger. But in truth isn't.
Copy and pasting happens in all games. It would take to much time and space to create a large enough world w/o it. Its just alot of ppl in ffxiv, due to lack of stuff to do, overly analyzed the world around them and noticed or felt they saw copy and pasting. As I said I didn't notice it in any vids. Prob cuz I wasn't looking for it.

If you look for things in games you will see them. Like graphical errors/ bugs. Like a shadow that is off, or a rock not fully on the enviroment. Abd it will start to annoy you.