Yes, it is a flaw. Because those “smaller things” are little more than virtual fidget spinners.

They offer a few fleeting moments of novelty and thats pretty much it. They have little to no relevance to the gameplay loop or are opposed to the gameplay loop.

I can “build” a settlement that does next to nothing and I can’t even design it the way I want.

I can build a base that is practically lifeless, but I have to be carefull because terrain will respawn. Or base foundations float on top of terrain.

And all the things I can build I’m lucky if theres 3 different skins I can choose from to try and make something “my own”.

And then of course lets not forget about the near literal mile wide inch deep the games oceans are. Heres a submersible. We will force you to use it for a couple missions and then theres no real need or point to it. All the oceans are the same shallow boring experience.

Here im being slightly facetious but only slightly :

You’ve seen one ice planet? Guess what - you’ve seen them all.

One glitch planet- you guessed it youve seen them all.

Tropical planet - oh look this ones sky is a different color, but still the exact same type of tree as that other tropical planet 40k lightyears away.