SE stop doing the "norm"

[Jynx]

but I don't consider that solo content in a game.

It's a shame you don't consider it content because it is. Plain and simple being able to explore the open world freely with few restrictions on where you can go asides from your own skill at evading monsters was rewarded with you learning the lay of the land, locations of enemies.

Just because you sat in town and did nothing doesn't mean everyone else did. Beastmaster came out fairly early in the games lifecycle I believe it was released with Rize of the Zillart (When NA players got to touch the game) and Black-mages have always existed. Crafting and gathering always existed as well, quests were always around, as well as map quests that all effected your gameplay experience.

If that's not considered content...I'm not sure what you consider content.