By your emphasis on good I take it you don't think AO is a good RPG, why per say are you here then?
In the RPGs that I've played the grind was everywhere. Just because it's disguised by Monster Mesh 541 instead of Monster Mesh 722 doesn't mean the core of the combat system has suddenly changed or that because Monster Mesh 541 talks for ten minutes more then 722 did about why it's evil and how it's futile for me to try to stop it doesn't mean it's not a grind.
Grind is doing something repetitively. Fighting, however broken up it may be by shiny features or involving storyline, is still fighting be it at the start of the game or end.