That's actually a very interesting point I've never considered.
At least for me the hunts in XIII never felt super important because I was just talking to weird floating thing.
In XII every hunt was having a specific effect on the world around you (even if said effect never really took place) and many (like the one dragon attacking the airships) felt more severe and urgent.
That's one reason I just pulled out of my buttox. I liked the story behind the marks, XIII and its hunts didnt seem to grasp me in the same way.
Then again, I also havent played XIII in a LONG time so take thoughts on that with a grain of salt.