If people are bailing 2 days after release on a FREE to play game (they paid for the software but it's free to play) something is wrong, wronger, wrongest! So far Mining was nerfed after the big "exploit," was closed, Trading is a grind and you better have another app to keep track or you're going to lose big money, Bounty hunting is for Cobra III's or smaller, Piracy is pretty much the same as bounty hunting. Exploration won't pay out any more either so should the name be changed to Elite: Grindfest?
Rares vs regular trading: there is a lot more danger and unpredictability in doing dozens of trade runs in an hour vs sitting in a dock slowly filling your hold for an hour, then making one long trip, to it doesn't matter where for guaranteed profit. They wanted rares to be a rare thing (hur hur see wat I did thar) so no use complaining that it has been "fixed", though honestly I still expect to see further iterations. Good for sidewinders to get them out of starting systems, bad for Lakons: good for the game.
Explorers have never earned big bucks, just big names. Some of our most famous explorers died penniless or in pursuit of new lands. What I mean is, what explorers are in it for the money? CMDR Zulu Romeo didn't earn mega millions, but he earned a name. I hope to see more development and fleshing out of exploration and the general way we access and interact with. The galaxy, and I'm willing to be patient while they make improvements.
Bounty hunting is better than ever I keep hearing, but big powerful ships are cost prohibitive to take into furballs routinely for a *comparatively* meager payout. Maybe that is intended? Perhaps Anacondas shouldn't be circling resource extraction sites looking for cobras to pop. "It's a young mans game" is an expression I hear from time to time, which means that once you reach a certain point, something that you used to do isn't FOR you anymore. I read about 750,000 credit faction missions today. That seems like a better use of your time.
Trading is MY game, so I can speak with more authority here. It's not a grind to all of us, it's why we play! I don't always use Slopeys tool, in fact I've not used it much lately because it has been less than accurate and missing parts of the galaxy where I hang my hat. So instead, I "rent" a sidewinder, fly around my sphere of influence checking prices and developing trade routes (not great success, but I've only been so mobile and have settled for lesser profits) and then doing the real work in my Lakon. Sure doesn't feel like a grind to me, if it does to you I suggest you explore other avenues.
Mining, I honestly can't believe you seem to be complaining that they fixed what was widely acknowledged as an exploit. Once you found a palladium 'roid, you could just fill your hull with the stuff until you were bored. There was no need to go anywhere else ever. Mining needs adjustment, no doubt in my mind, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't have fixed an issue they'd never intended.
Some people will buy this game, and even after pushing through the learning curve will not like it and quit. Those people will be angry about the money they spent on a game that wasn't what they thought it was, but they honestly can't be saved. An acceptable level of turnover is still ok for a healthy game.
The last couple patches have been of the "don't rock the boat" variety because they want a good impression during their game launch. Big features come with big bugs, and they don't want that right now. Expect big features in the coming months, but for now I encourage everyone unhappy with the mechanics of the game to be patient, to try different things if what they're doing doesn't work for them, and to try interacting with FD in a more reasoned manor. They're on here, they're addressing specifics, don't expect roadmap answers but if you have a question about how something currently works I bet they'll answer it if they have time.