Is XV a step in the right direction? HELL YES.
Is it for everyone? No.
All Final Fantasy games have glaring faults, and XV is no exception, and the stories--no matter how heartfelt--are always a bit wonky. If you can't live with these, I suggest you pass and find yourself a different brand. If you no longer like these things, I suggest you stop buying FF, as it may no longer suit your tastes.
That said, even their failed games are fascinating. XIII, for instance, was an attempt to deconstruct Judeo-Christian salvation and Predestination. This colored certain parts of the design, like the corridors and lack of options for most of the game. It's a steaming turd of a failure, but at the same time, it's an amazing conversation piece.
XV has nailed the verisimilitude out of the park. Getting a meal is no longer a menu interface; it's going to Freddy's 50's style diner and getting an order of fries. I can actually see XVI or XVII dropping menus for shopping entirely in favor of picking items off shelves and ringing them up at the register. Driving in the car to your destination is a bizzare and bold decision, especially after XIII was criticized for being non-interactive, but it reminds me of riding Agro in Shadow of the Collossus; a quiet moment before the storm that deepens immersion and lets you admire Squeenix's purdy grafix. Cooking a meal is anemic mechanically, but it's a good marriage of flavor and function, and it's the kind of thing I want future FF games to keep around.
Camping Sponsored by Coleman makes me giggle every time they set up camp. I just see it as a fourth wall gag. It's also a clear Dark Souls nod, the way you gain spurts of experience when you rest.
