Wrong game. ED isn't was never intended to be that game. If you bought it for that you bought the wrong game.
I've heard this push back so many times that it's somewhat stale now. Especially given existing contemporary space sims the likes of Space Engineers, X4, Empyrion Galactic and NMS.
What sort of game in your opinion, was ED truly intended to be? And more specifically, how would implementing emergent PvE game play features (which ED so sorely needs for longevity) the likes of space legs, personal Cmdr space station HQ building/crafting, interactive NPCs v. static 2D menus etc. affect your vision for the existing game play? Are you truly that oblivious on how completely dated the way interaction with station NPC contacts is in 2019? Or is it because you don't really care?
Because if you won't admit this, then I will. The BGS is a terrific, dynamic feature that maintains economic stability within the ED universe. However the PP RPing elements are extremely weak at best. Repeat. Extremely weak aka debilitated at best. Since the faction NPCs you interact with have zero character development (i.e. limited to text descriptions with outdated graphics). Which encourages the most superficial RPing for PvE players seeking gaming immersion in the game world. PP has low replay value. Once you've performed the grind to rank up to Duke/Prince or whatever level to unlock the ship/game play ability a PP faction leader provides, there is little incentive to continue progression with said faction. Even if you opt to live dangerously and play the role of double agent. At some point, your rank/progression will reach the point where you've obtained all the benefits you want from said faction. So what's left?
You're somewhat left with doing PP to take advantage of things like passive income benefits for being in that faction. The Galaxy news about NPCs and PP events weren't that much better either. Because you as the player, cannot form an emotional bond/relationship in game through interaction with your Holo Me character. The way you can say in RPG franchises the likes of TES/Fallout/Witcher etc. So if Princess Asling (sp?) were to be assassinated by NPC pirates tomorrow, neither I nor my Holo Me Commander would give two figs about it. LoL.
The best thing FDev has done to date in attempting to rectify this, was to use real player driven narratives on Galaxy news. That helps players feel they're a part of the interactive world/universe where ED is so sorely lacking.
So that's my vision for where I hope FDev could be headed with ED. I can be a space privateer, Wing Commander, pirate rogue, upstanding billionare trader, valiant explorer etc etc. in my vision for ED in the future. So what's yours on what you feel ED was truly intended to be?