I really liked the side quests in FFVIII and FFIX. FFX was good too and FFVII. FFXIII was horrible while FFXII was like FFXIII's but with actual stuff and more going on, along side other side quests.

For the Elder Scrolls series, the factions, guilds, groups, etc. are a great way to create side quests. It is out of those constraints that they can sometimes become repetitive and cookie cutter. Something that should be avoided.

No, WRPGs and open world games generally are the most immersive for me. My job is nothing like Skyrim, Ass Creed, or any W
RPG. If my job was like that it I probably would not be on the internet.

Funny, minecraft is basically like a game were you do nothing but work. Mine, chop wood, build, design, farm, hunt and yet I find it completely addicting.

I certainly believe in variety and there are actually not too many WRPGS made each year. Thankfully when they are they are usually really long so it is not that bad.

Well, at least in Monster Hunter I really feel that it is worth doing the quests. They aren't just useless crap thrown at you.

Kingdoms of Amalur certainly felt more like busy work then fun, I quit halfway through.
Skyrim also got boring... after 60 hours, not a big problem there. Still a lot of side quests could have been better and some should have just been left out. I should have done the main quest sooner, it wasn't much fun after I had already gotten bored with the game.

Fallout New Vegas had the balance just right. Dragon Age: Origins was very good too. Or you can go with pure exploration like in Dark Souls, my favorite this gen.