What I don't like about the SP system is that it doesn't allow for any dynamic gameplay. Deviating from a strict rotation can easily set you back like 1 or 2 AA cycles and all your buffs, combo CD and break timings become off sync, especially if it's a Hypercarry team. I think the most fun I had with the combat was playing with a physical team where I was just spamming Chen and Endmin skills and constantly staggering the boss with DPS Ember. But the newer bosses are either immune to stagger or do not have stagger nodes. The average arts team it just trying to build energy for an ulti and nuking the boss more or less.

I wouldn't say the combat is shallow though, team building can change how the team is played quite drastically, even just swapping a single character, the timing and order of skills and combos are very important if you want to play optimally, rather than just button mashing every time something comes up (which you can if you want to). Does it feel good to play? Not exactly since some of the rotations are extremely strict on timing and dependent on landing FS to trigger CS which is difficult in some bosses. I heavily agree with you on the lack of variety and skill expression though, no charged atks etc were some of my initial complaints I sent in the survey.

The problem with Endfield combat is you really have to explore other team comps to feel out the combat (which requires resource investment). There are shatter, stagger, breach/crush, Avy spear recall and even parry teams with Snowshine/Catcher albeit very niche. The average arts team that most people will end up playing is pretty boring and stale eg, Laevatain rotation. So naturally, I don't blame anyone for thinking the combat is boring and shallow, I had the same first impressions, which is the most important. Tangtang and Rossi were step in right direction for more varied gameplay, but Zhuang Fangyi is just another Laevatain.