A couple thoughts:

Re: Area variety: You can always take a look yourself if you want! I was able to run to some of the highest level areas in the game back in beta (When the game was capped at level 20)... although it's certainly not easy, so long as you keep moving if you're spotted by melee mobs and avoid the sight lines of the few ranged mobs, you can do quite a bit of exploring! As I'm assuming you started in Gridania, if you wanted to go adventuring? Head out to North Shroud, then dart through the high level areas out west - you can get to Coerthas, from there to Mor Dhona, and from there to Thanalan (You'll have to wait until 15 to get to La Noscea though as it's an island and you need an airship pass and other things).

As for crafting? It's probably my favourite crafting system in any game ever.