As everyone has said, mob density is obscene. There's walls of monsters and monsters blocking narrow areas, but multiple routs to areas. I'm disappointed that there's still so much snow in the lower area; I know it's on a mountain, but I feel they could have been a bit more creative with it. Mob mutations still exist and seem to happen more frequently and even with lower level mobs. I don't know if this is where the heat-warped boxes drop as I haven't gotten any yet, but it's safe to assume it is.
As far as "good" drops from boxes, they seemed to have eased up considerably. First 20 regular boxes I opened contained one of the new housing items (empty jars) and the price on Balmung is plummeting for that particular item. It seems people have gotten the hairstyle already and some have multiples of it. If you just want the items and don't want to do Pyros, just wait and watch the marketboard. There are plenty of people in there and the more people who are higher level, the more people will be doing the bunny fates just for the items since the drops this time around seem reasonable. No clue on the actual NM drops as I've only done a few and one of them I was too low level to get any rewards.
If anyone is going in just for the story you do need a completed weapon from Pagos to continue.

Quote Originally Posted by Matrinka View Post
What level can we ride mounts?
Everyone is saying 50 (max level). I don't mind having to work for it again, but I really wish we could ride them sooner.