I think the very best move Blizzard could do next expansion is to have flying available with 9.0. The grind to flying would be the usual - get to exalted with certain reputations, explore the zones in their entirety and perhaps pay up a couple thousand gold or whatever it may be.
I don’t mind not having flying but if flying is going to be a thing in this game I believe it’s time that we stop this idea of “lets wait until half of the expansion is over and half of the people have left the game”. Blizzard could do very well by their community [and their own wallet] if they make flying readily available 100% of the time and it’s there for those who love it and can be ignored by those who don’t.