I actually prefer the escort system because it's more of a choice. If you just want to get to the end you can just run straight there (or wrap straight there) and be done with them. If you want to actually spend time with the character and have that extra dialogue (and gpose chances) then you can do that do. The "sparkly bread trail" just means you have to stop at every single point regardless of whether you are or not.

I do feel the 6.0 MSQ did have a few too many escort quests (and some people found them buggy with poor pathfinding) but I took that as more of the developers delighting in having a new toy to play with rather than an ongoing design choice.