Yeah...agree with everything you said, I feel same way.Stopped playing about 2 years ago. But weirdly still check in to the forums every couple of months.
It just drifted ever further from the game I was hoping it would be. An issue that for me at least is partially a consequence of making it multiplayer.
Most of my time playing was dominated by a sense of trying to convince myself that I was really enjoying it. A pressure I felt probably because I was a fan of the originals and so the world of Elite was important to me. But in the end I realised the effort wasn't really worth it.
It's all good though. I know many really enjoy it. It just turned out to be not the game for me. That's fine, but it makes me a tiny bit sad.
I totally agree about multiplayer...the modes when they were announced were a reason to celebrate as far as I was concerned, I wouldn't be forced to play with others if I didn't want to, which I didn't and still don't, not in Elite anyhow.
Looking back (isn't hindsight wonderful) I think that decision, to have modes was a huge mistake as it made the job of developing the game, catering for and balancing for each mode almost impossible. This is why I believe much of the content developed for ED missed the mark. It was just too difficult and too many compromises needed to be made on every feature.
If there is ever a sequel to ED I really hope they decide to pick one mode and stick to it...that mode being single player of course