What is 'the long way around' from Moab to MV? I am not entirely certain where the Million Dollar Highway runs??
From Mesa Verde it would mean heading to Durango and up the 550 through Silverton and Ouray [Million dollar highway]. Those towns are great and the drive is spectacular. From Grand junction [possibly Colorado NM] take I70 and drop into Moab, you can take the 128 through Castle valley to Moab, take another look at my Colorado trip if you want to get a better picture.

given you can see so little from the Islands in the Sky side without a 4x4.
You can see plenty, you just can't get of the top of it without a 4x4.