This is my opinion about every game that came after Dark Souls 1, although I think the drawbacks are a lot more visible in 2&3 in Elden Ring - as you pointed out about the open world. Finding the shortcuts in the first one (like Darkroot Garden connecting the Parish to the Burg) is a feeling that’s never been replicated for me in the later games.
Yep. Bombing down the PCH sure ruins my nights. The canyons suuuure aren’t fun to blow through either. I’d much rather live somewhere ugly and flat with no culture