Seems to me like a lot of players feel a sense of adventure has been lost somehow. I agree to an extent, but I don't think it's entirely lost. It's just been misplaced.

I think with the last expansion, I think the "adventure" in Cataclysm has really been in re-exploring the revamped old vanilla areas. And I'm afraid to say this, but I think the 80-85 areas and their assorted dungeons and raids could be said to be an afterthought to what was a truly massive renovation project. You can really tell with the quest re-writings in places such as Westfall, the Plaguelands and Badlands that the writers were truly focusing their energies in these places. Well, that's how it seems to me anyway.

So far I haven't really enjoyed the 80-85 areas, quest-wise, but I absolutely enjoyed some of the revamped vanilla areas.

I wish they had put more thought in Vashj'ir particularly though. That zone had the potential to be all kinds of awesome if it had been given the Northrend treatment. Each Northrend zone in WotLK, I felt, was distinct, interesting, had a fun story to tell that kept you hooked the whole way (even Zul'Drak, if you really pay attention). In the end though, it just felt like Vashj'ir was made an underwater zone and left it at that for the novelty alone.

Sorry if I'm getting off the subject, but I really do think the revamped areas is what Cataclysm is all about as far as adventure. And yeah, that sucks for the dungeon crawlers and raiders and level 80's, but that's how it is for this expansion so far, seems to me.