Immersion and giving the examples I gave(Xenoblade,DQVIII), I wouldn't say I want non-linear maps like Skyrim, just ones that create a sense of proper scale and allow me to explore my surroundings. There's a big difference from experiencing a world you explore and one you briskly walk by while reading a brochure about it.
That is fine and all, i still can't bring myself to think a map filled with monsters are suddenly more important to FF fans than say a large scale city with complex structure similar to Midgar or Lindblum. Honestly i will take more big cities and countries with many activities and NPCs over an empty lands.