Just finished Bestower of Wealth/Power/Fame Prologue, meaning that I have finished all the available Main Story Quests, and the only I can say is... I want more!!!
The flow of the story keeps you invested enough, and unlike the original Octopath Traveler, it all divulges into a greater picture, making it all interconnected, something the OG missed.
Battles can be as complex as it can be, as you get further into the game, which makes every decision you make equally important as your character roster. Yes, it's a Gacha, but as long as you don't blow everything in one go and spend your Rubies economically, you will eventually more 5 stars. Heck, I finished most of the story just by relying on my single 5*, because the other 4* are amazing, too.
So while Square Enix has made a stupid decision for that region lock, the game itself is one of the best in its genre. Amazing music, too.