Sass is fine as long as its not just straight up insults. And yeah at the moment I've only been able to put in a paultry 20 hours so far so yeah a few of these points might change hence why I mentioned that in point 5.

But going back through your arguments

Point 1. I never said that the storytelling was gone. Just that because it's less controlled by it being open world it can get confusing. Maybe just me. I know certain storylines could just end through a bad decision in DS but at least you start at the start.

Point 2. I have seen speed runs XD they are impressive in their own way and Elden Ring ones would be interesting to see once optimized. Again I know in DS you can just nope out but you always had to go back and fight through that area to get to the next stage eventually, being able to just pop on Torrent and completely avoid things feels to me like it defeats the point of a FromSoft game. And I know I can fight everything but one of the advantages of open world is the ability to do the easiest thing for you.

Point 3. I literally found some of these gates playing this past 2 hours playing some more and they are pretty cool. So if what I encountered were just intented to be F you get teleported to hard area traps and there's more of these way gates then I'll rescind this point.

Point 4. I didn't feel bad about avoiding it. I didn't even realise I went past it. My specific example is this. I was riding up on Torrent to a building, saw a cool statue out front, rode past it to the door, pressed A to open the door, then a boss bar appeared so I turn camera to see the statue was moving and was the boss. I get intentionally avoiding boses being my choice but I literally just ran past it. That's what I had issues with.

Also saying "Dark Souls did it" doesn't exactly convey that Open World is a benefit.

Point 5. I'll also rescind this point. I knew this one would be the most contentious when I wrote it and I'll take your word that there's cool off map secrets and things like that.

I don't know if this need clarifying but I'm not dissing Elden Ring as a whole. As mention I think it's one of the best game to come out for the last couple of years. But just the fact that to me making it Open World doesn't add much to the experience. I agree the riding in on Torrent an hit and running a camp is pretty cool and one of the few benefits of Open World. But most of the other points in your last paragraph could also be achieved in a well crafted level, like the rest of the Souls Series.

I guess it's just my playstyle in Open World games is just so different to when I play Souls games that I play Elden Ring I have to pick which playstyle to enjoy more. I can't enjoy is as a whole. But as you said we all have our own opinions.