I mean yeah FFX is linear as heck and I don't argue that. I don't think it 'hid' its linearity per se, I think it made it so it didn't matter and you didn't care because it was an enormously fun and engaging time. Which is a pretty goddamn widespread point that has been made by reviewers etc. in its favor.

The only reason I can see people wouldn't think it's a convincingly long pilgrimage is because they had such fun the time just flew by