Agree!
Ppl are in rush. I really love to explore the world and feeling so free.
I also see ppl complaining about maintenance, you should be glad that developer really doing something about the bugs.
I totally agree! And you forgot to mention the start area people now miss, a great story for your hero starts there. Without it your character loses context.
Example: I saved and got to know the people of Bleakrock Isle, and their stories followed me all the way to the main city , and who knows, I don't think it's the last I've seen of some of them. And when tragedy happened, it had impact.