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I enjoy it for what it is, an "RPG" set in space. I'm using 100+ mods for it, and while that's nothing for a Skyrim playthrough, I think it's a decent amount for Starfield. They mostly address balance issues, bugs, make some things more interesting or work better, or just improve the visuals a bit.
The issue is that there aren't really many mods that change the gameplay fundamentally yet, though one of the exceptions is Starvival, which has a lot of modules you can enable, that make the game more realistic, immersive, and interesting. For example, one of the modules changes starships, adding fuel and maintenance costs, and disallowing fast travel unless you're up in space.
I think as the modding scene matures, people will find ways to fix most of the game's issues, but only time will tell.
I do hope so. However that also means that the base game needs to have a good base experience for people like to get back into it.
Personally I really like Starfield for what it is. I think it is a unique mix of RPG and space sim. I am not a big fan of pure sandbox games, and other space sims with quests often felt doing impersonal jobs. In Starfield you meet people and learn their individual story and can help them, etc. Which is just not something I have seen before in a space game. (Mass Effect is maybe the closest, but that isn't really a open world space sim game)
Of course the game could be better. One of their error was relying on procedural content generation, which is often bleak, uninteresting and unexpiring. Also the main city, New Atlantis, is just too clean, too huge and very bland. It doesn't look like it was build for people. It got a very MMO feeling to it. It looks like megalomaniacs build it, but that isn't really addressed in game. Other cities/locations are better. But the political of societal critique, which is normal for the Sci-Fi genre, is missing or not apparent enough. The devs where IMO not bold enough there, to make a clear statement.
So IMO there is a lot to do for modders, we will see if enough of them are interested in fixing that game.
Hit the nail on the head. I don't think I'd mind the size of New Atlantis so much if there was actually enough content within it, but as it is, you have to run for a while to get to anywhere, meaning you'll either fast travel or be bored while going on foot. I think Akila city is a bit better in that regard, since it's still fairly big, and has some verticality, while also being denser.
Personally, New Atlantis deserves a side-quest where you either start a revolt together with the people from the the well to take on the bourgeoisie government (which might end up creating a fascist state), or change the system electorally, establish unions, social security and public healthcare, with its own risks. Or even play the part of a populist, or help one to take over the government. The "liberal utopia" in New Atlantis is just not a stable system, there would be too much disgruntled people. Being part of change here, would be very interesting.
But that would take too much courage from Bethesda. No, I have to support my parents there, because the government doesn't care for their people.