I know that the devs are working on the new expansion. I also know this request has been discussed and know that there are currently no plans to change it at this time.

I would love in the new expansion when it is completed if a set of areas to just explore with some risk could be added. When I say risk I don't mean open world NMs (would be nice though). I mostly refer to the inability to run straight through a zone and survive at pretty much any level.

Example: I wanted to find out what it was like to be a new player so I created 1 archer character and 1 Arcanist character.
In both cases at level 17 (for the archer) and 20 (for the arcanist), I was able to run from the town all the way to Dragon head, then too Mor Dhona and all the way (although Mor Dhona took one extra try as I was not even paying attention) the 2nd camp.

This should have never been possible and really reiterated the lack of risk in the game. I understand there are needs to cover for those not as strong or the casuals, but it is really bad when a character 1/2 to 1/3rd of the designed level can go all that way on foot with pretty much no risk or challenge. This was a real downer and kind of helped me understand why the new players are frustrated due to the lack of challenge.

It is nice that you have some serious end game challenges (eg primals EX and Coils) but beyond those few there is no reason to even acknowledge there are other mobs except to call them decorations. This seems like a lot of resources put into the environment that is wasted as there is no real use for he mobs nor a challenge to get past them. (EG the run in FFXI to get to Jeuno (no I do not want this to become ffxi, this was just an example).