It just doesn't strike me as a game about a fantastic journey with colorful characters. That's the bare minimum I expect from a mainline Final Fantasy game.
You'll only get that from Bravely series from Square these days. I really hope a Bravely Third is made. Love the cast of all 3 games.
If you want colorful characters it's Xenoblade all the way. Until FF gets on Monolithsoft's level I don't see it making a recovery. Only stagnation. If they want to talk about more player freedom in RPGs then they should start there.
You have a few outliers like Visions of Mana, Star Ocean(Divine Force was alright), Romancing Saga 2 RotS, Octopath. But Final Fantasy? Success coasting and living in the past. And it has been for a while.
XIV has been carrying the IP very hard. You'd think they would give bigger budget to make XIV the best it could be but no. It's funneled towards other projects...like FF16. And so here we stand.
I don't think CBU3 will learn this lesson but the hyperfocus on graphics and cinematic experience isn't the answer. They can do so much more with a well written narrative and art direction. And of course RPGs with RPG elements.