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???
Yeah I think the World Maps just made the PS1 games feel more open to people lol. So they were kinda fooled by that.
games are pure smoke and mirrors, the mere appearance of non-linearity is one of those intangible things where if you stop trying, people will immediately clock it as "you made it linear"
Honestly I wish people wpuld come back around to linearity. Most open world games have either shitty gameplay or only play well if you can sus out the secretly intended route to explore a world.