Really I don't understand how much open world content people want. I mean I'd like some but I had more fun doing instanced events in FFXI. I think what a lot of the issues people are having with instanced raids is much more of a stereotype then anything(which SE is playing heavily into atm...) Instances and raids don't have to be like the crap we have now, again I look to FFXI as to some instanced content that was particularly fulfilling, salvage had interesting mechanics with great rewards for participating, nyzul isle was intense and fast paced with goals presented, BCNM's were structured battles often with highly valuable drops.

Now I'd love some open world content but depends on how it's implemented. This is where SE needs to get creative. HNM's were a horribly flawed mechanic and I'd hate to see them implemented in a similar way as FFXI. Force popping bosses is one thing but again I rather SE were more creative then saying "here go farm this and then you can pop XXX," cause then we'll just be fighting over ???'s. Couple oh HNM's I did like however was Ixion and Turul(tho not sure if turul can qualify as an HNM) since they didn't have a static pop location. For both of these NM's you kinda had to hunt and actively look for them. I really liked that. Also a few abby NM's had some interesting claiming mechanics like Fistule in abby highlands, where you had to use a lesser NM and have Fistule absorb them in order to get claim.

tldr:As long as SE doesn't get lazy doesn't really matter whether the content they release is instanced or not.