None of that is really very relevant as to whether the story works or not. It's all made up, it's fiction.

If they want an emotional effect they must set it up within the story. For new players (which I assume is the main audience) whatever mumble something FFXIV 1.whatever is not known. What is known, is you go from allegedly heroicly slay a primal, to find ingredients for a feast that makes no sense. This not only doesn't set up anything, it detracts from the story. After all, to slay a primal is made out to be a big thing, suddenly you run pointless errands. When we're supposed to be kind of in a hurry to save the world again?

That said it's my opinion the ARR post quests are a bigger problem in the MSQ. ARR 2.0 does pick up energy in Coerthas, and after a short lapse again, it ends on a high. Then everything grinds to halt, and stays inert until 2.5 or thereabout. I'd rather play my character a bit more and get to know him better, not listen to cutscene after cutscene after cutscene with little point or development.