You can explore exactly the same as the old way if you want. You can still honk, you can still fly up to planets to scan/discover them. You will get the same payouts as before. Nothing has been removed.
The probes are completely optional.
I Can?
You mean to say I can still
Honk and check the system map (while spooling up my FSD) to see if the system interests me or not?
Because if I can do that then I'll sign back in, go through the pain of re-configuring my bindings* and set my screen to blue and play for the first time since half way through the beta!
I wouldn't be able to play '
exactly' as I did before though because I used to '
do em all or nothing' and the Honk etches your name into the suns for ever... without even asking (which is a bad thing... like being famous because you exist instead of working for it)
However, I'll still Enjoy X4... just because I can (even though the graphics are still a bit buggy and the occasional CTD)
*Windows update shot the lot!