I think its really fun. Sorry maybe you cannot see it right now or your tastes have changed.
You are talking about Shadowlands… now that was designed to keep you coming back for more. Maw Daily’s, Zereth Dailies, Calling Dailies. Renown time gated. Maw daily cap.
This expansion seems way more focused on fun.
If you want to grind rep… do that. If you want to do dungeons, then go do that. Raid go ahead. You want to be a bad mother crafter? Here is a epic new crafting system bud. Dont raid but you want tier? Here is the crucible for you!
Hope you get the point.
With crests you can do the content you enjoy but still progress your character no matter what content.
Nothing is really rep gated.
Only grind is for Sparks I guess, but I just ignore the weekly and loot it from the raid next week. 