When I get on the ferry, I see so many boarding in the cinematic scene but when it ends it's just me and the driver all alone on the boat usually. The airships in 11 often had passengers around which would feel more casual then an empty boat that had images of people boarding. It doesn't help how the water looks like motionless and shallow either. Only when there is a thunderstorm on the boat does it look attractive at all.

I won't say there is none in terms of environmental effects because I have walked the entire world and seen some stuff out of the ordinary at least. None of it can be interacted with but you will notice it goes on when looking closely.

Some minor stuff I happen to notice around the world are things like:

Mining carts traveling across the tracks and railways on the roof of Nanawa Mines.
Small frogs hopping around the rocks of Mun-Tuy Cellars.
Amazing huge waterfalls in Coerthas that disappear in the foggy weather and mist.
Fast flowing grade 10 rivers, looking very realistic with small rocks in them creating water lee effects.
Beautiful lily like flowers glowing at night in the small ponds around Five Hangs or Camp Tranquil.
Climbing the hills to the top points of Central Thanalan and viewing Ul'dah while a blazing sandstorm travels across (below you and not in front of you) looks amazing with the sun setting behind.
There are a lot of shrines and stuff but nothing really moving unless a lamp flicker or incense burning.

I just want more of stuff like this that makes the world seem less motionless. The towns are feeling very stationary beside players for sure. As for lore area names I read in game somewhere about Mistbeard (Mistbeard Cove) being some famous pirate around Limsa and Nanawa (Nanawa Mines) was someone related to the miners guild who discovered minerals and such in there. The name sounds very lalafell like so I wouldn't doubt it since the miner story has so many lalafell.

Yes to more beastmen too, haven't seen enough even though they sound like there should be many of them living somewhere in the world.