Seem, I always defended the game just based on "linear isnt bad", not really thinking about the reasons why its linear.
Ive also always been confused why FFX is well liked despite... also being very linear up until it opens up at the end? But XIII got memed for hallways???
VII opens up several times (when you have the bronco, whenever you have the highwind/prior to the raid on midgar, and much earlier than those if you invest time in chocobo breeding/racing), VIII is fairly open the whole time, and IX opens up if you're willing to invest an obnoxious amount of time in a sidequest (chocobo hot/cold). you can never go literally anywhere but you can access much larger portions of the world than is entirely obvious in all of them. X and XIII are substantially different in this regard.