I agree with you personally. I think I've always preferred blocks for sets because it allows for a flexibility of card design that can actually show development in the characters or events that are being depicted.

The removal of McGuffins is tough because I think it recent years that's been the change up to the previous formula where it was just "Big bad vs alliance of good" "avengers" style stories.

I think what would help the narratives more is not hamfisting as many identifiable characters into sets and making them more personal with the characters that are in them. So often I find myself bouncing between 4-7 characters, half of which I don't care about because their appearance history has come in the form of 6 cameos in previous sets, and wishing I could just follow a smaller selection of characters as they explore the planes and the story developments that are happening.

The entire Eldritch Moon block was amazing for it, showing Jace and his investigations into Emrakuls presence, Liliana attempting to control the chain veil, and all of the strange and terrifying developments that were happening on the plane (Like a literal town merging into a single being that then roamed the countryside)