I dropped this game after playing awhile when first released because I didn't think it was enough like Fallout 4 and it seemed so "lifeless" without the NPCs. I then picked it up again nearly a year later and got deeper and deeper into it - it really is a great game. LOTS of story, lots to discover and decipher, every time I think I'm coming to the end of a journey something new and unexpected opens up.
Other players roaming around are nice to see and play with now and then - and generally very, very helpful. While some who have played Ark may be worried that the bad elements there carry over here, it's almost never an issue. (Apparently it was an issue when the game was first released but there are settings and tweaks and I've only had one "bad" experience and there is not much anyone can do to harm you in any meaningful way.)
NPCs are on the way, too! Well worth trying again and THANKS BETHESDA! Big gamble but also a great game.