That's pretty much how it's set up now, you can play without ever having to worry about activating signets, the only time I ever use them is when I'm playing with others in open pve situations and it looks like a total party wipe is only a second away, when soloing I really just forget about them and only focus on weapon skills, and personal strategy.
I'll explain so you don't take me as a 'forum pro', or someone who doesn't apply the advice they give, to themselves.
I am remedial beyond belief, so much so that you'd be disgusted at my level of ineptitude, I can't even play really in groups because of 'things', or any other MMOs because of their deep-deep complexities, I can't even do a lot of things in GW2 as it's just too much for me, so I run the easiest ranged class (preferably with a pet, because it gets lonely out there when you can't play with others without being more of a burden than you're worth) with the least amount of complexities and buttons as is possible.
You won't really be missing out on anything by running straight passive signets.