I agree with the op, partially. While I don't want a game like wow or other theme parkish game, there is something missing while leveling.

I feel so disconnected from eorzea and the environment as a whole. The zones are bland, I teleport to some camp to kill things and that is it. There is little sense of adventure and lore. Lore is there, it just isn't done very well (IMO) with leveling.

I know some of this will be remedied in V2, I have my fingers crossed they deliver.