I just finished my second playthrough of the game, 5 years after finishing it the first time. To be honest, there was a lot about the game I had completely forgotten about, but I still enjoyed it just as much as the first time. The progression overall felt fine to me. I personally enjoyed having all the customization options with the habitats, though I see your point with how quickly the progression jumps to the end game. To me, the primary enjoyment I get out of the game is the exploration of the unknown, going around to different biomes to find the materials I needed and just enjoying the beauty of the planet. It's definitely one of my favorite games of all time and one that I will continue coming back to in the future!

Now I'm gonna start on Below Zero, because I haven't played through that one yet.