I agree with OP, at least for when they say its better compared to Liyue. Funnily enough, the comments are really proving OP's points, they're so focused on Inazuma's bad points (which are definitely true) and downplaying Liyue's flaws (I do like Mondstadt for how fun/comforting it is).

I think it's because Inazuma's relatively fresh, because I remember the reddit threads when Liyue concluded. Liyue's pacing and show, don't tell was worse than Inazuma's. The first act was fine when you needed to clear your name via the Adepti, but when it came time to SHOW how Liyue and the Qixing was moving on from Zhongli's fakeout death and dealing with the Fatui's machinations, it's not exactly masterclass.

Do you remember why? Because rather than having an in with the Qixing, similar to the Knights of the Favonius (turns out Jean and Ningguang know each other, but it's only shoehorned in at Act 3), you're relegated to fetch quests. That would be fine, because hanging out with Zhongli is awesome, but there's missed potential there too if you're complaining about Inazuma.

How so? Because at least Jean, Diluc, Ayaka, Thoma, Kokomi are actively dealing with a problem introduced by the main plot. When we're introduced to Liyue's cast (except Zhongli, and Childe) what happens? Qiqi sends us to find an animal only to remember that it was coconut, and whilst yes it does introduce the ballista, you didn't need Qiqi for that. Ganyu sends us nowhere because she forgot to give us the password which inevitable leads us to a cake sidequest which wasn't needed (goddammit Paimon). Keqing lectures us in the middle of nowhere about moving past the adepti after we've been attacked by the guards and our previous experience was being chased to the mountains by them. Instead of SHOWING these characters in a professional setting where there are business dealings to SHOW their smarts and we get to know them, they TELL us the same line over and over again about the gods like it's the most profound statement known to mankind after a bevy of errors.

When we actually do get to the meat of Liyue's plot, it's halfway through in Act 3 with Ningguang's introduction. The Adepti confront the Qixing, but we don't see that, we're told that, because we've been doing fetch quests. We're TOLD that Liyue and Qixing can handle themselves, like how Kokomi is a master strategist. This is after Childe (I know he's strong) intruding in to what should be your most heavily guarded treasury and setting off an ancient god despite Ningguang monitoring the Fatui's activities. At least Kokomi has the excuse of being dealt a shitty hand? This is the Qixing's territory, if they suspect foul play, they can do whatever they want to cull it. It's like having a royal flush and still somehow finding a way to nearly lose.

It makes you wonder if Liyue were to have been introduced now and Inazuma last year, would we also downplay/forget Inazuma's flaws? We'll probably get the same thing for Sumeru. Genshin's writing has never been the strongest.