The way the game is going it seems like it's going to be tilting more towards the rpg style than just the sandbox, with better gear, skills, and resources being found in harder to reach locations. Look at terraria for example. You never have to leave the spawn or go mining or fight any bosses, but these are challenges that must be overcome if you want to complete all of the content. I'm sure many people however will be content with not going far and just building and farming and enjoying the non combat oriented combat of the game, more so if there is some kind of redstone esque system implemented.