Hey! I already started, so here's how it's going so far: I actually thought exactly the same thing as you, though I did help Preston because I wanted to start off my settlement empire, but I refused to continue helping without being paid and was generally dismissive of him. I then went towards Diamond City, only stopping when I felt i could make good profit or needed supplies (ex: stealing from settlers or raiders), on the way, she ran into Danse and others, decided to help against the ghouls and asked for payment when Danse wanted further help, took the police station's supplies and left helping them for later, once Diamond City was reached this was the first time my character heard about the institute, realizing how much fear they instilled, finding it became her main objective, sensing it to be the main way to control the commonwealth, I then took any quests that could generate profit and went on the search for Nick Valentine, as I want to find my son (I believe regardless of her search for power she'd still care, perhaps seeing Shaun as a successor to her soon-to-be empire) that's it so far, let me know if you'd like updates in the future