i liked hnm's, i loved the full linkshell fighting part of it mostly. and i hated the time afk waiting. so for
1. they should be full linkshell or very large group oriented. aka 16-32 players (at the very least)
2. rather then time waiting there should be quicker/ if anything instant repops of hnm's in that zone after it dies or still pops if still being killed if 10mins passes or something to that extent.
basically my thought is the down time for a mob you are fighting mobs in that area that are constintly swarming and attacking agressively anyone in that area. so we don't go afk and come back every 25mins but are fighting things. like atomos fight would be good, and then pop comes the HNM ...and the mobs your killing can drop items that give you higher drop rates. since HNM's should keep popping everyone should be there fighting for HNM's but also always killing mobs that can higher your drop rates, maybe items that instant pop HNM, or special HNM with 100% drop rate*super rare* what have you. even can have small things and buffs from the smaller mobs. heck you can enter that area and it makes everyone naked and the killing of smaller stuff slowly gears you like in salvage event. anything other then sitting there afk.
also on the repops, as an after thought. it would be really cool if the HNM is claimed and being fought that another in that area can pop within 5mins. so that other groups can grab it, or even a full linkshell with enough people can grab it, then another pops every 5mins as long as one is being fought or killed. that could be pretty entertaining for linkshells to do together. HNM farming, with low drop rates. but i still love the idea of the atomos type event,where HNM's also have smaller mobs to kill inbetween each pop.
also to add about F.A.T.E it's not the same, that is just an open world event. it's dumbed down cause your not in full made parties and rather you are just a solo person in a large group. it's like campaign battles. but they are hyping it with these huge boss like mobs instead. games like tera have mobs that big as normal mobs to fight and it was still boring as crap. it's not no wear near what a HHM like ffxi had.