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???
I didn't really enjoy 20 hours of character development for the climax to be the story of the unborn god who is born to die birthed by gods who die to birth the unborn god to kill itself so MEGA GOD can be reborn after dying. Then the lesbians get stoned. And then none of it matters, time travel baybeeee!
But maybe I'm just built different.