Indeed. I think that it is more to do with lack of quest content rather than the combat system. I'm sorry to bring up FFXI, but that game was full of adventures.

Infiltrate beastman headquarters.
Discover the secrets of ancient civilizations. (Zilart)
Go across the ocean to seek fortune in a far away land. (Aht Urhgan)
Travel back in time to discover a truth no one can ever imagine. (Wings of the Goddess)

The fun thing about being an adventurer, as opposed to being a member of a faction, is that you have free will. If you want to pass on a particular set of adventures, you have that option. That's the fun part of adventuring. It's not a chore. It's a choice.