In defense of IX, the Chocobo treasure hunts did bring some much needed map exploration and helped alleviate the situation somewhat. Granted you didn't find a dungeon at the end of it(which would have been better), but the search itself actually is fun and you had a TON of them to find, with the prospect of finding juicy items. It's "hidden in plain sight" so you really gotta pay attention to the scenery and landmarks that are around you, and actually is some in-depth searches you gotta do here. I really enjoy that part of the game. When you add a strong, touching story and strong characters and world building and an elite OST to the mix, I think you get a pretty dang good game.
(Oh, there's also the creatures who Quizzes that you gotta search for. And also, getting blue magic requires travelling and finding maybe new monsters by exploring all types of terrain on each part of the map and dungeons. So hey there's that at least
but it doesn't have the deepest potential for exploration, for sure.)
In regards to what Blinge said of emotional impact being more important than a good overworld map : I think what made VI so special is that it has BOTH. few games pulled that off.
(I myself won't turn down an old jrpg on the account that it doesn't have a gripping story. Having the exploration aspect is enough to get me pumped to go on an adventure and play the games for hours on end and with a big smile on my face. Heck even the prospect of "GO SAVE PRINCESS FROM DRAGIN. HERE'S A SWORD. GO EXPLOR" is enough for me. So you can tell I'm a big fan of "tiny man on big map". But a more cinematic, touching journey is great entertainment too and I like that as well. I like VII, as I said above. Very intense moments with shocking turn of events and great atmosphere. And I like X too).
Lastly, I think nostalgia definitely informs our preferences here wheter we like it or not. People who played VII first will likely have a special place in their heart for that game, just like Final Fantasy on NES has a very special place in mine : I picked the game up on it's North American release in 1990 and the game just blew my friggin mind. first jrpg I ever played and it hooked me instantly. and actually is the game that made me a gamer "4 lyfe". I also played IV on it's North American launch in late 1991 and that game impressed me so goddamn much. Blew my mind, repeat of what the first one did but bigger even. I could not believe the leap in graphics and sound (IV is my fave FF soundtrack, I feel like it has the strongest compositions Uematsu ever did) and the mode 7 airship... I don't care about the gameplay not being super duper deep or if it "objectively" (god I hate that term) isn't very strong : that game RULES in my mind, haha. The look and FEEL of that game is godly, and the basic premise of Dark Knight turned Paladin is classic, come on. Hey some touching moments too in that game! at least it is for me. Just some overall massive CHARM going on. IV is often dismissed, but people who played it in 1991/1992 know how big of a deal that game is.
(I need to replay the fan translation for V, haven't done that since the late '90s on emulators. I remember loving it. And same with III on Famicom, really really dig that game. That job system is ace. I replayed that latter one more recently)