I don't know why people say that linearity is a bad thing.
Some of the best games I've played from each genre were linear: Final Fantasy X, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, The Walking Dead, etc.
Open worlds don't always compliment games. It does befit some of them but it's not decisive of whether it's good or not.
If you don't like linearity then that's fine but keep in mind that you are the problem, not the game.