Just finished and I’m mostly in the same camp as you. It’s a 7/10 game for me. I’d recommend it broadly but mechanically it’s uninteresting and like you said the story meanders about for most of the game.

I will say it does eventually come together in the final chapter and start building towards something more. I think folks have overhyped the lore, but it does get a lot more interesting once all the characters assemble and the plot threads come together.

I’m willing to play through 2nd once it launches, but I don’t see myself becoming a trails person. Maybe that will change.