I'm not sure what you mean with the first part. There was that shandalar magic video game... Do you mean that? Or the open nature of magic as a collectible card game? Or even something else?
When I think back at the first open world games (gta 3,vice city, San andreas), in hindsight it were mostly tech demos. It was fun because it was never been done before.
For me it was the same with far cry 3... I could go anywhere and do whatever I wanted in a jungle. But as a result I never even tried 4,5 or 6. I had already had all the game had to offer in 3. But it seems like open world is, ironically, painting yourself in a corner. Once you go there, you can't go back to more restrictive in a future game. Even though it would've been a better choice (I'm thinking of saints row... They just rehashed the same city for at least three games).
@SG854 : do I look like I care? I'm trying to play an assassin in that game, not someone's private mailman.