I recently got Rune Factory Frontier and have yet to play it (I haven't had the time...), but from reading the instruction manual, it seems a lot like Rune Factory 1 for the DS. Is it the same, just for another system? I only ask because I wasn't happy with the DS version.
From what I understand of it, I believe Frontier is a sequel if anything. Though I've never played it myself and am only guessing from the limited info I've gathered from reading other peoples posts on here.
Rune Factory Frontier and Rune Factory 1 have the same protagonist and a few similar characters (e.g. Mist and Melody), but they take place in different locations (Frontier is on a floating whale island). They also have different storylines.
I personally have Rune Factory Frontier and I don't think it is too much like Rune Factory 1. I didn't care for RF1 much either. Some of the characters are the same but RFF also has it's own new characters. From what I can remember none of the bosses are the same and it doesn't have Ehtelbert as the main villain. Rune Factory Frontier gives you an experience more based on town life and the NPCs actually come out of their house from time to time! I really liked RFF and it sounds like you and I have the same thoughts so you will probably like RFF,too.
