Guardians was a butt mechanic and I hope it never appears again. Especially when the dev team didn't have the foresight initially to realize the Spriggans linked with the instajib death trees that for some precarious reason, seemed to possess sphincters. 1.0 was a weird world.

However, I do miss the overworld having some semblance of threat, in spite of that. Garlean strongholds were tricky to maneuver around solo, even at 50 and with solid gear. Now to call them a joke would be an insult to jokes everywhere. What the hell happened in the last 5 years that turned the Garleans, Magitek included, into marshmallow pillow fighters? To say nothing of everywhere else. I can't really think of a single place in the ARR overworld that is legitimately threatening, without going out of your way to put yourself in danger. I know XI got the stigma of the absurdity behind there seemingly always being a rarab, no matter how much you level, that can dominate you, but the exact opposite end of the spectrum isn't a wise move either. Give me an area with at least level 80 enemies, make a new tier of maps to coax people to enter the hellscape for loot, while still being an entirely optional area, it'll be a good time.