OP is right, not because there's too much story, but because the story -> gameplay ratio is getting very silly and the gameplay parts are getting very... not good. The game is just zipping around between cutscenes.

To be fair, they tried to add variety with the escort/follow thing, the """stealth""" segments and the occasional (bizarre) first person segment... and I'm sorry, but they are very bad. Solo duties are very hit and miss as well.

IMHO they should have made side-quests more integral to the game's progress and perhaps design the maps in a way that encourages exploring instead of just making a bee line directly to the next MSQ marker (aether currents are a nice start, but it could be better).