OK, maybe the game didn't launch in a good condition, but much like No Man's Sky, the game has really turned around and is now actually worth the price.
I tried it out on the free week, and ended up buying it at the sale price after a few days. It's not perfect by any means, but if I feel I've already gotten my money's worth, and I've barely scratched the surface.
Lesson learned: ignore the hate campaign, see for yourself. You might be pleasantly surprised.