No. You're implying that you're missing something, but you're not. Not doing something has a result, just as much as doing something. Things just play out differently.
The Auntie Ethel scenario can play out in a *lot* of ways, depending on your class, where and when you encounter her first and more. By doing things a certain way, you 'miss out' on all the other ways. By not talking to her in town, you get a different encounter when you meet her. There's no need for some handholding-prompt. Just go and explore as you will and take things as they come. What's too important will always be on your path.
Oh we are absolutely missing something...we are losing agency and the ability to make choices to a flimsy and inconsistent mechanic. A mechanic that at the very least should be clarified. But we should absolutely not, under any circumstance be robbed of agency by a flimsy, inconsistent, and unexplained mechanic.
