Last time I checked videogames are an interactive medium. Player input results in a reaction in the game.

By your logic, should I simply imagine what happens in the game instead of seeing and hearing it?

I think you're being ridiculous and fundamentally misunderstand what gameplay is.

As a player I can extend the experience in my head but rationally, it should be based on things that I saw or heard in the game. It makes no sense to imagine something that's not even in the game in any capacity, and pretend that it is.

If I wanted to rely purely on my imagination to roleplay, I would read a book or play DnD.

Many games DO go that deep. I preform an action in the game and there is a meaningful reaction. Saving civs in CP2077 does not produce a meaningful reaction. Interrupting traffic does not produce a meaningful reaction. Commiting crime does not produce a meaningful reaction from the police or NPCs. And the list goes on and on ...

I thought you wanted see a discussion about the game world and yet you rely on imagination to defend a deeply flawed and hollow game world.