the case that it was overhyped and made people buy it before anyone knew they were being taken for a ride

I'm still waiting. I'm not the only one. We keep asking for a list of things that were hyped about Starfield that we're missing, and so far that list is exactly zero items long. Most of the things people are bitching about, I would have told them 2+ years ago Starfield wasn't going to have, and nobody ever promised.

Further, how are we "taken for a ride"? I've spent $20 on Starfield so far (Xbox game pass) and have had nothing but a fucking blast. Are they secretly screwing me by making me enjoy it?

I'm going to reiterate what I said elsewhere. To my understanding, Bethesda promised me Skyrim in Space. When Starfield came out, Bethesda delivered Skyrim in Space. What exactly is fraudulent or misleading about any of that? I'm sorry if you expected Minecraft in Space or No Man's Sky 2. But nobody ever said this would be that.