JRPGs follow the similar format that you had on 8bit computer RPGs from EONS ago. It isn't a wonder, because the likes of Ultima inspired JRPGs. What they do is actually become more linear and put a focus on story telling, and means to tell the story. Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and others pay homage to Bard's Tale and Ultima.
What has happened is innovation is happening in the western RPG format, where other genres creep into the mix, like FPS in Mass Effect and Fallout 3. Similar storytelling focus, and character development, but other genres come in. They aren't locked into a format that has sold a bunch, so they innovate. As it is now JRPG is a format of RPG that has gotten old. And now that every genre is improved storytelling, and have added stat-building, they are getting to be particularly locked in. And, at their hard, is grinding through menus. Other game genres have added other ways to grind that are entertaining. Grinding IS addicting though.
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