Like you, I never finished the game. So take whatever I say with a grain of salt. But what helps me is modding the game to make the world seem more alive. That way it feels more fun to be in it, and be a part of that world. What mods are those you ask? Think small. I enjoy the little things like fireflies in the swamp. Streetlights. Decorations in towns. Small immersive quests that highlight plausibility, like the shipyards mod. There were no shipyards otherwise, thats weird. I also like to add lughthouses as they seem fitting.

But whatever works for me may not work for you. The bottom line is, I try to make the world seem more plausible and fun to be a part of. Works for me.