This game prior to 2.0 was an unrivaled space sandbox with loads of freedom as for how you progressed and what pace you took it at. It was mildly tedious at worst, mainly with how you built reputation with factions; and for the late-game, factories, though the thing is with the latter, you're literally making an economy that eventually can fully automate; that's cool as shit.
A lot of the finer automation you could set up has been stripped away in favor of single-button tasks you assign captains, which are like wizards now that do a bunch of stuff automatically for you. To offset this, 2.0 had the brilliant idea to also take things the game was known for (expressive progression, choose your own route, piracy/industrialization, etc.) and instead force you to grind out arbitrary pseudo-XP bars to even use the materials you acquire for your ship. The pacing is no longer down to the player's skill or risk-taking, just a needless checklist of bullsh!t to fill out and watch your numbers grow.
A lot of the finer automation you could set up has been stripped away in favor of single-button tasks you assign captains, which are like wizards now that do a bunch of stuff automatically for you. To offset this, 2.0 had the brilliant idea to also take things the game was known for (expressive progression, choose your own route, piracy/industrialization, etc.) and instead force you to grind out arbitrary pseudo-XP bars to even use the materials you acquire for your ship. The pacing is no longer down to the player's skill or risk-taking, just a needless checklist of bullsh!t to fill out and watch your numbers grow.