I think I have the exact opposite opinion of the game's exploration. More than any other MMO I've ever played FFXIV's world feels alive to me. Quests, story, and the like all play a role in this, but the way the world is built is the key. I love to explore and find the game provides me with plenty of opportunities. It seems like your only complaint is that there are no huge underground places to explore that aren't in a dungeon? But since when has exploration been limited to what's underground? And why wouldn't dungeons count as adding to the exploration?