I was really disappointed as well. I tried to the Bloodshore->Wineport caravan and got that big "WTF?!" feeling that was a torn in the fun. Why? Simple enough, there is a road that leads to the hamlet, why are they making such huge detours?!?!
If the devs wanted to have the way to be longer, just make the caravan start somewhere else... it's because of those WTF feelings things feel awkward and purposeless.

Why won't the caravans start from the city to an aetherite camp or hamlet or settlement? Or vice versa? You could have multiple roads and multiple difficulties too. Instead of having a dumb caravans doing many detours to ask to be assaulted by bandits. Honestly...

I hope hamlet defence won't be awkward like that too.