>>58120976
It feels like a better open world (despite not even being open world) because exactly that, game feel. The smoothness and fun of actually traversing the enviroment is a better experience than SV's traversal.
For example, there is a lot more natural fluidity to Wierdeer's gallops across different environments compared to Miraidon's high speed sliding over every type of terrain equally. While running around in PLA you still have to be aware of wild pokemon, but in a way that doesn't abruptly interrupt your travelling. Very few things will actually throw you off your mount. Contrast how you have to pixel hunt and avoid every single wild pokemon in SV or the rocket pokemon you're riding will go from 60 to 0 mph in an instant to drag you into a menu battle.