Yeah. I think the issue in NMS is that they keep adding new systems (good) that do the same things as other systems (hmm) and can't interface with those systems (bad). Like, why is town building not at all like base building? Why does base building have its own rudimentary town building part, but it kinda just stops? Why do they have beautifully realized frigates in space, and crashed frigates ont he ground, but no relationship between the two?
I really want to love it, it contains essentially everything I like in a game, but it just constantly falls short on depth each time. I'm due to go back and sink another few hours into it but I also feel pretty confident that I'll finish off again feeling the ache of missed opportunity.
All that, and also I just think the writing in the game is phenomenally bland. It's not bad at all, it just never captures my interest in the slightest. I'd love to get my hands on the basic framework of the story and totally rewrite it.