I agree, but would use the word "can't" over needn't and shouldn't. They created a galaxy and populated it with convoluted mechanics and procedural generated filler instead of any cohesive narratives or compelling characters.
The in game "plot" is atrocious. Galnet articles on who space khalessi is dating. CGs where aisling CMDRs are incentivized to trade imperial slaves. The nova imperium thing which is a yawn-fest that no one takes seriously. Mostly ignore Archon, Grom, Alliance. Game mechanics that encourage pledging against ones own story interests. Generic engineer backstories shunted off into a few lines in a tiny text box on the upper right portion of their screen, followed by 97 more hours of grind to get a few more lines of uninteresting backstory.
Typical "story" driven CMDR interaction:
Cmdr. FedNumbahOne "Halt, imperial scum, carrying out the wicked orders of Arissa Duval!"
Cmdr. FoobarJackson "What's an Arissa Duval? I just want hammers. Hey, can you tell me how this merit thing works anyway?"
Cmdr. FedNumbahOne *sigh* "Uhhh, ok, carry on."
Z0.