lol level up a bit more don't take my toon to be a noob,..I've been everywhere,...and the content is the same getting quest gear is an upgraded version of bounties
You can be a noob and still be level 100+. I've seen it before my very own eyes. People who lix so much they don't know how to use their own class, don't know bosses, locations, strategies, etc. Though it is possible for someone who doesn't lix to be a noob, generally those are lower levels.
Anyway, that's an aside. From the way you wrote your post I assumed you to be level 52, or perhaps in the 60-80 margin. Though perhaps with the new armor system, more like 100-105.
Personally, I love quest gear. I have always used that over anything else- except for my one mage who decided to get the spirit stuff for the focus. As a dps, I like to go from beginning to Connacht quest to anc lamellar to Warden, and thence to meteoric and froz. Even when Dia armor was in the shop I didn't bother. And now you would have to pay me to get the stuff that replaced dia and quartz, its just that not worth it.
For weapons, I liked the quartz/dia, esp in v3 where said weapons were better than warden/mete respectively. Once v4 came out (with the easier weap quest) and the speed bonus of the new mete bow, I immediately focused on only getting my mete bow. After that, weap shops lost my interest.
Your topic is story lines. There is a story line in each and every zone in CH. You mentioned a few, but there are so many more. And yes, these stories are supposed to add adventure, purpose, fun, and of course better equipment. Personally I must admit that after Shale I found the SV story line somewhat lacking, and in ow they seemed to forget the story. Then you level, you travel new places, and stories come out of the woodwork. Though I still think the beginner lines have more flavor, I was delighted when I saw the fianna tales.
And bounties are new. They are bonuses. Bounties help but they truly are not by any means necessary. Of course, quests aren't either, but they do give out the best bossing equipment, and often leveling equipment.