I agree, but what stops Blizzard from pushing a change to the system? Rep already has the paragon system which gives people rewards based upon doing emissaries, tables, and WQs.
So how about instead, Im going to use the High Elves as an example here:
There is a new zone in 8.3 and you have to go through the story and explore the map to even get to our time-gated questline (and if it sounds like a bit scarce, tack on like Kill X amount of elites, Do X amount of WQs, etc to take up more time). You have an easy and reachable goal just through simple questing and exploration.
Once you have done those requirements: you get a quest from Wyrmbane in tBoralus to go speak to Yvera Dawnwing (REMEMBER HER??) out in said zone to begin your time-gated questline similar to the âMaking the Mountâ questline/achievment (except each week is longer than one quest and it doesnt take 12 weeks to finish).
So you go to Yvera and it turns out the 7th Legion is getting messed up bad out in the field and are having issues. Well it turns out, that reinforcements are pretty dry due to the heavy losses at Nazjatar and in Battle of Dazaralor. Her camp with her fellow magi (mostly high elves with other mixed races) need to evacuate, so you spend the time doing specific quests to eventually help that detachment escape to safety. Yvera comes to talk to Wyrmbane in the aftermath, who both decide it might be time to call in old Alliance allies.
Next week, you go to Dalaran with Yvera to have an audience with Vereesa. Well it turns out the quelâdorei cannot actively assist with the war because of Dalaranâs neutrality and the agreement for usage of the Sunwell (lets tie in old lore things to make a story). Thus she decides it might be best to talk to the OTHER groups of high elves so they can make a coalition to decide.
Story continues where you go talk to the Unseen Path, talk to the Highvale elves, the elves of the Second War (Outland), talk to the elves of Stormwind, etc etcâŠuntil it culminates in this final meeting between the leaders where they decide to all form under the banner of the Silver Covenent and break away from Dalaran.
This completes the questline prior to the recruitment questline. Its story driven and takes up time (both of which are needed).
EDIT: Honestly I could probably just keep writing this.