I’ve been pretty happy the last few expansions just subbing for a month or two toward the very end when there is a catch-up mechanism in place and all the system power / artifact power / whatever it’s called for the current expansion is plentiful and less grindy.
Playing that way lets me experience the questing (which, as you said, is the best part) and the lore without having to wait behind time-gated nonsense and excessive grinding.
I’ll sub for Dragonflight once they announce the next expansion; play it for a while, and then un-sub again. Works out pretty well for me, so I thought I would share the strategy with you in case it helps.
Happy gaming!