Getting to 60 shouldn't take you more than 5-6 hours, unless you decide to read all the quests. There are also new phase quests as far as I know.
If you just click "Accept" not bothering to read the storyline in Allods... you're missing out on a HUGE part of the game - might as well go back to playing Space Invaders =P
Not 100% sure Sailoryue (I can't even log in yet lol) but patch notes said Greatness quest only available at lv 60 now, and as allod construction quests branch out of it... probably, yeah.