Iirc that’s almost how it was in Guild Wars 1. There would be common areas (towns and outposts, the places without danger/ennemies) and each time you ventured out of them and into the PvE world, it would be a new instance only open to you and your group.
Also, when a tool increases your productivity but your salary and paid time off don’t increase, it’s a tool that only benefits the overlords and as such deserves to be hated.