OK, a month later (obviously not playing this every evening), I have completely completed the Frozen Wilds (main story and all side quests), sneaked into the bowels of Sunfall, fought in the Sun Ring, dealt with the Embrace and visited the last main spot (gah - hard to talk about this without spoilers). Also I now own the funky suit of armor I've been wanting for like forever.
Now, I stand before the gates of Meridian.
Wish me luck.
Oh, and even after all this, I stand my my original opinion that Sylens is a piece of work . . . and the guy who created Hades enjoyed his job just a tad too much.