It isn't for everyone, that is for sure. You can find a lot of things to criticize about the game, as you can will all games. Not everyone likes Factorio, Elden Ring, God of War, Stardew Valley, Rimworld etc. even if they are massive successes within their own communities.

I'm not defending the game or trying to make a case for it. I'm suggesting that if you can't look past your 9 year old memory of a botched launch and compare it to the subsequent near-decade of grind this team has put into their dream - you might be lacking perspective.

Yes and no. Some new things are quite fun like expeditions or derelict freighters, but there’s no “story” per se beyond the base one.