Honestly have to disagree entirely... The game is 100% open do what you want.

If your skill or gear is not good enough to go to an area you learn a valuable lesson while exploring. You learn you can go there, but it is unwise to do so until prepared.

I am not even sure what you want? A scaling difficulty in all areas that increases as you level up like skyrim? This is not skyrim, progression in this game is getting into areas of higher difficulty, starting out by just getting by, almost dying etc. Then by the end of your time in that area, thriving in that zone with new gear and new skills (player skills and knowledge of mechanics).

I like being outnumbered, outmatched or under prepared every once and a while it means there is still a challenge, still something to learn and defeat. If it is all a cake walk then it is a pure time sink with no accomplishments to achieve.