I liken this game to the old AC1 as the character progression here bares some similarity to what was produced there. The world there was vast and full of different encounters and scenarios. I loved it. The progression system here seems very similar so far though I cannot speak for what is found on the mainland.
It's really too bad you decided to cancel. Give it more of a chance before throwing in the towel. You might find that you prefer this style of game and with Ryzom Ring coming soon, there may be more opportunities for directed quest content created by folks like yourself who really dig that kind of gameplay. I know I am going to be doing a lot with that tool to create the kind of experiences I really enjoy
