The main events include the journey through the Crystal Desert. You'll encounter new races and face various challenges along the way. For example, dealing with the threats from the Forged.
The PoF story focuses more on the desert regions and the cultures there, while the base game story has a broader scope covering different areas. The enemies in PoF are more unique to the desert setting like the Forged.
Yes, you can skip the Heart of Thorns story in Guild Wars 2 when playing Path of Fire. The two expansions have somewhat separate storylines, and the game allows you to jump into PoF without having to complete Hot first.
Yes, it could be. 'Bairly' (presumably 'barely') implies that there is hardly a story in Guild Wars 2, which is a criticism of the game's narrative aspect.
There is indeed a main story in Guild Wars 2. It begins with your character's creation and their entry into the world of Tyria. As you level up, you'll encounter different story arcs that are related to the overall main plot. These story arcs often involve battles against different threats to the world, as well as uncovering the secrets of the land and its history. You'll also meet a wide range of characters, some of whom will become your allies in the fight against the various evils in the game world. The main story is designed to keep you engaged and interested as you explore more of what Guild Wars 2 has to offer.