A large part of the problem is that the likes of Moenbryda are pushed as much more important than they actually were. Moenbryda's demise didn't really have any huge consequences. The Scions were upset because she was a good friend of theirs and a colleague. Her parents were upset because they're family. Yet beyond that, there's no deeper consequences.

A good death is a death that has lasting impact beyond making a few characters 'sad'. We really need someone on the level of Aymeric or Nanamo to die. A leader figure perishing for one reason or another would plunge a nation into chaos and if written well that very same chaos could bring back some of the grit and intrigue that many of us wish to see. With so many nations already introduced into the game itself, it makes no sense to me for every single one to go in the same 'safe' direction with no meaningful instability to speak of. I would have liked Merlwyb to perish during the negotiations with the Beast Tribes which would not only cause relations with the Kobold and Sahagin to sour but allow a new leader figure to step up and push Limsa deeper into piracy. Maybe Sicard could have fulfilled that role - and given us a male leader figure to rule at least one of the three starter city states.