Yes and no. How you're probably imagining it was not what it was like. For example Uldah, yeah it had some end game level drakes at the time near the very south part of Uldah but it wasn't like you'd get argo by accident from them.

Also the leash system was different then too. You can put level 50s RIGHT outside every starter zone and it still wont matter, you walk 3 feet and you wont have to worry about the monster following you. It's absolutely silly as it stands now.