I think the issue with the story line is too far spread apart. Over all I think the story line is fairly good, it escalates more and more as you go through it.

Currently there is so much unknown about the story at where it currently ends I do not think anyone has a clue what will happen next. Very typical SE story line, issue is we have no end and there is too much timer between story lines.

IF you youtube the Ifrit mission and the final mission where you meet the possible mainboss/headguy from the Gar. Empire you will see the story gets a whole lot more interesting then the intro background story missions.

What is the issue with the gar. empire?, what happened to the city that the empire destroyed?, what is with the primals and the bst tribes?, why do you have the power of echo and why do you have immunity from the primals? I think SE is weaving a great story, it just needs to be finished.