The problem is that even the first Zelda wasn't as open as BotW, that game is too open for its own good. I mean, how can they even add a meaningful story or do character progression in the next game if you could just skip straight to the final boss again, for example?
Sigh... I think it's just time for me to realize that my favorite franchise isn't for me anymore. I swear open-world is ruining my favorite games to me.