Even in XI most people stand around in a city zone near the Auction house. Half of the reason why you see anyone in the world map is most likely due to them needing to still finish traveling to their destination. As even though you can unlock a lot of short cuts there are still a lot of places that are out of the way.

Would I like it if there was more to the non instanced and non city portions of the maps? Sure, but I just can't think of something they could add or do that people wouldn't get bored of. Heck they gave us sight seeing logs and aether currents. One I doubt many do because it doesn't give much xp and the other people have been complaining about since their first introduction in Heavensward that is also a one and done.