The Eorzea map is more artistic and not a literal representation of the size of Aldenard and Vlybrand though - although I agree with you, sadly making larger zones does not mean more interesting locations to explore, 1.0 showed that all too well, where there huge open landscapes that covered most of that map, which were ultimately either long narrow pathways with the occasional small clearing (in the 1.0 Black Shroud's case), or just big expanses of nothing with the same environmental model repeated over and over. A world map in an RPG ultimately is an illusion anyway in that it's meant to show that the world is bigger than what gameplay allows access to, and FFXIV is no different.