If you can't find what you're looking for in the current state of the wards, you're doing something wrong. The search funciton brings enough AH-like functionality that you can find what you want in a reasonable time (I don't see how it could possibly take you more than the 2-3 minutes cited for WoW) and those that enjoy shopping or whatever can still get their experience.

All that is really needed is to make larger ward areas and have the same wards that are accessed regardless of city. Then all the goods will be in one place and people won't miss things that were put up for sale in another city. FFXI had its auction houses unified, the FFXIV market wards should be unified too.