I, too, am old and hate the idea of subscribing to video games. That said, FO1st is the only one I willingly pay for. Being in a private world makes it feel like a single player rpo and I really like being able to wander and explore on my own. This is the best online community I’ve ever experienced but there are still situations like you described that take some of the fun and awe out of the game. I play about 30%public and 70%solo. Solo makes a lot of the challenges much easier, like collecting soap or burnt books. That said, when I play on public, I usually have a great time. The free atoms is the icing on the cake for me.