I disagree with time limits
I wouldn't want to see too much timed things in a game like Divinity 2. But having a battle or quest that every once in a while has a timed component to it I still think adds variety to an RPG. It's all subjective though.
As a side note, WoW doesn't have it perfect either with flying in classic Azeroth, as there are places such as Ashenvale and Swamp of Sorrows where you hit invisible ceilings as low as perhaps 20 meters from the ground while flying.
You're right, WoW isn't perfect, but still I think WoW's flying mounts in terms of freedom of movement sets a bar such that you don't want to experience something lesser than that. To make an analogy, like having a fast computer then going to a slower a computer.
