Youre missing the point Rjain. You don't make any progress during the entire quest. there is nearly no reason to do them. This game was built on the idea of progress.

I am going to disagree with the OP though. The sub-quest are missing even more than just the rewards. Most side quests in comparitive MMO's lead to other quests, other areas, and a deepening and expanding of storylines parallel to the main story line that later converge and explaining why the player is in one area questing and leveling and the importance of that part of the world.

These side quest are the equivalent to my girlfriend asking me to pick up some milk on the way home after work. I might as well, ill be out there anyway but not exactly meaingful in anyway and almost instantly forgotten when it's over.