I kind of think you are right, the middleground here I think is unlocks to account 60 unlock- 60 on any server
Journeystep unlock- Account wide unlock
Sorcery Unlock- Account wide
Feat point/recipee unlock- Again account wide

Progression in this way being tied to the account instead of to the character would kill the non engaging mindless grinding one has to do each time they join a new server, this content has been done by players to death and becomes a chore to those who have repeated it enough times.

its not the game, its chores I need to do before I start playing the game, gather pages, mine obsidian for levels, doing dungeons if I want ranger armor etc.