Much like other current titles, the game directors intend you to see it as themepark. Rather than push for a long stay, you turn up - ride your rides - and leave. What you remain for and get out of it amidst that is really just down to you. Ofcourse that has resulted in the 'luls' people experience in content; and that would be fine, if quality after the fact was always good or challenging. Sadly thats rarely the case. Which floats back into things seeming even more dead on the 'game' front. Story is pretty well delivered. It's no epic story, for those heavily familiar with Japanese mediums but its sweet enough and beats out its competitors in cohesive longevity.
Personally I have to build gaming around a busy life. At the dawn of the MMO golden era, I suppose I was pretty hardcore and ofcourse much younger. I played primarily only PvP (and the games then had barely any questing at all) so all in all, that fitted a very socially orientated and less game centric playstyle.
As we moved on story became a thing. Dungeons became much more intricate and well coded with dynamics. So you get that shift. If you see gaming as an investment in time and money, you are going to want to hit as many bases as possible and then gtfo in time for tea, so to speak.
On the social front, I am adaptable these days. If I really like you, I'll likely migrate you to being an actual friend from the digital F-list. So then conversation for me becomes more casual. As does game antics and moving away from pure 'productivity'. But at the same time, since most people have different hours, different backgrounds and ages (and so on) I just knuckle down and try and use the time as productively as I can when we interact and play more practically to progress when we don't (more relaxed).
If you are someone who needs to socialize here, I've found it can be like getting blood out of a stone from some. Meaning that its not quite IMVU material at all. Different expectations. But if you happen to find a good group, its like much else. You share the activity mutually and how much you play might be orientated purely around how much you enjoy their company.
There really is no right answer for me I don't think. The variable, is each individual I cross and the perception I get from them. I am in the camp of believing that MMO's are for the party, not for the lonesome. If it weren't I'd just stick to single player games with superior narrative. So thats going to colour my opinions on every element of the game.