it's a matter of perspective, XI wasn't about "Claiming" your content people really blow this out of proportion. We had tons of open world content.

Campaign, Fields of Valor, Beastmen forts, Open Dungeons, vast world filled with lore and content.
Yeah, all the endgame linkshells were really planning their week around Fields of Valor and coffer key runs.

XI was 100% about being the one to get claim. The fights were boring. Ifrit is 1,000 times more fun than anything in XI ever was.