There are maps, too, that force you look around to figure out where the spots are. Unfortunately, those are moving toward instancing. I still wish they'd implement something more with your chocobos, but I don't know what they could add to make open world more enticing. Things that readily pop to mind, like world bosses in other MMOs, are already covered with F.A.T.E.s and hunts. There are F.A.T.E. chains with stories, and even some that change what happens in the map, like the one in Southern Shroud whose name is currently escaping me.