The Wind Waker's sidequests are, mostly kept to Windfall Island. This is much appreciated, since having too many involving sailing (even with the cyclones to warp around in) would just be too much. It's also handy having so many of the island's citizens interested in items that monsters drop.
But this use of a central trading/social/quest center is curious in the wider context of the Zelda games. All of those before Ocarina of Time had no such location. The quests were spread out amidst the various places where you found people, either holed up in caves, or under bridges, or in huts off the beaten path.
Even in Ocarina of Time, there really isn't a central hub. Sure, it has the Castle Town, but there are enough shops in Kakariko Village and Kokiri Forest, and enough things to do in and around the Gerudo Fortress to keep your interests spread out. But in The Wind Waker (and in Majora's Mask) most of the shops and quests can be found in one location. Though these games hold their central places in balance with the rest of the game's map.
Although there are story-related reasons for it, Skyward Sword takes having one central location way too far. Outside of Skyloft there are really no shops, no quests, no mini-games. At least, there aren't nearly as many outside of the game's hub as there are in earlier Zelda titles.
But there are still helpful creatures living on the surface - why don't the Gorons have a shop? Or the Mogma? Why doesn't one of the Kikwi collect Ornamental Skulls as part of her punk rock rebellion? Or why doesn't a Parella want something you need to trade with characters from all over the world to get? How can a game set largely in the sky be so empty when one set in the sea is so lush?
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