It worked in Cocoon when the characters were on the run and, with the exception of Nautilus, didn't have the time or inclination (or non survival instincts) to hang around towns.

However on Pulse it did feel like a wasted opportunity to me. The explanation they went with was seemingly that all the Pulse people were wiped out (for reasons that, unless I'm missing something, are never really explained) but to me that seems like writing to cover for the lack of ability to do towns - which they openly admitted.

I already liked this game, but it could've easily been one of the best if they hadn't basically given up after Oerba. There was plenty of opportunity for Pulse towns, NPCs, alternative ways of taking the story that would involve them all and make it more epic, maybe have the Cavalry out there lending you an airship so you can go around finding answers and training etc. Instead they created Pulse and created this absolutely stunning, beautiful landscape - but put so much effort into the visuals that they ran out of steam and had to finish the game half way across a bridge. I wonder where it would've led.

Apparently Versus will have things like towns and airship travel (steerable, no less!) as they've been able to use the same engine and save a lot of time. So there's some hope there. I'm not sure I like the look and sound of the "real world" or "darkest ever FF" aspects though - if I wanted to be depressed by the darkness of the real world and probably lots of nice people dying etc I'd go and watch the news.