I'm always confused when I read these posts. I'll admit, this game isn't for everyone. And that's fine - games SHOULDN'T be for everyone. But to blow through this game, say it's done, and then say how disappointed you are seems...well...silly.
Granted, I would have done some things differently. (For example, I probably would have made it much harder to advance to the next mission requirement...like at least 50,000 credits each time), but sheesh - I'm 26 hours into the game, and I JUST finished mission 3 and am having one heck of a time playing the game.
I tend to agree that once I'm done with the SP game, I'll lose a lot of incentive to play. Which is why I'm using the SP missions as an incentive rather than doing them all at once.
My strategy is simply this. For every story mission I take, I THOROUGHLY explore at least one entire system (either related or unrelated - just depends where I haven't been before). That means landing on all the bases (that I can without switchng alliances...don't like to attack my own forces and such), reading all the information about everything, reading all the news stories, talking to all the people, picking up cargo and taking a mission each time I leave a base, sweeping all the asteroid fields/nebulas for hidden objects/bases/ships,etc. Exploring a whole system can take HOURS, and it really gives me a sense of accomplishment to chart them and have all the info. in my map for future use. In fact, as the game progresses I may start doing more than one system before each story mission.
Anyways, my point is, if you really do the game as gradually as I think it is meant to go, it will take a LONG time and you'll tease yourself with what happens next in the story while you're exploring the other systems and readying yourself for the next "chapter." Reading the supplemental materials also REALLY deepens the universe for you and fills in the gaps/questions. IMO, if you speed through the campaign you're missing most of the atmosphere!
Like I said, there are plenty of people who this won't appeal to, and that's fine, BUT...if that's the case, this isn't the game for you. There are plenty of space sims out there that will better suit your tastes. I'll be the first to admit I have a very meticulous and detail-oriented personality, and this game really appeals to that (for example, I have no problem with taking a half hour to do a search pattern through an asteroid field with my sensors set to see everything looking for hidden objects).
Anyways, just my opinion, but people looking for JUST a campaign will be sorely disappointed with this game, and people looking for a LOT to do and who ENJOY taking the time to do it will be blown away by just how much there is in this game! It's actually pretty ironic. Depending on one's personality, there's either very little or a TON to do!
Anyway, rant over - just my thoughts!
Shaun